It is common place in psychoanalytic literature and in the presentation of case studies for a description of the, usually female, analysand’s attractiveness to be given as a diagnosis rather than an opinion, for the word ‘feminine’ to be used as a synonym for submission, for psychosexual development to miss the glaringly obviously important stage of menstruation, for a child’s development to be modelled on the theory of male psychosexual development as described by Freud, for women to still be described in terms of their loss of not having a penis but gaining a baby – not a vagina, and for the fundamental experiences of pregnancy and birth to continue to be overlooked.
In this event, Michaela Chamberlain and Aaron Balick will talk about the ways in which psychoanalysis has been (mis)treating women throughout its history. Following her recently released book, Misogyny in Psychoanalysis, Michaela Chamberlain will be offering provocations about the ‘hidden obvious’ – in psychoanalysis misogyny hides in plain sight, seemingly above and beyond the usual conventions of workplace etiquette or even a vague awareness of sexism.
After we hear a short presentation on the topic, we will open the floor for discussion to explore questions.
