Psychoanalytic Feminism

Psychoanalytic feminism seeks to gain insight into the ways our psychic lives develop, in order to understand and eliminate women's oppression. The basic [Page 687]foundation of psychoanalytic feminism asserts that men have an inherent psychological need to suppress women. From this perspective, the root of men's impulse to dominate women and women's minimal resistance to subjugation lies deep within the human psyche. This creates a pattern of oppression that is integrated into society, producing and sustaining patriarchy. Societal change, or a “cure,” can be developed through discovering the source of domination in men's psyche and subordination in women's, which largely rests unrecognized in an individual's unconscious. Psychoanalytic feminism asserts that through the use of psychoanalytical techniques aimed at examining how gender is constructed, as well as differences between men and women, it is possible to alter socialization patterns at the early stages of childhood, primarily before the age of 3.

Psychoanalytic feminism developed out of cultural feminism. Cultural feminism is one of the earliest forms of feminism, and it seeks to examine the differences between women and men in order to understand women's place in society. Psychoanalytic feminists focus on exploring childhood development, viewing the first years of life as solidifying our beliefs and practices connected to gender. They examine how gender is understood and the ways it operates on individual, familial, and societal levels. The foundational theoretical framework is based on Freud and Lacan's theories of the human psyche, particularly on psycho-sexual development.

There are two main branches of psychoanalytic feminism. Both focus on a range of issues related to gender and society, seeking explanations as to why men continue to repress women. The first section studies differences between men and women on a microlevel, primarily within families, focusing on women's psychology and the environment in which the personality of a child develops. Researchers investigate childhood learning, early sexuality traits, and parental relationships. Additionally, they explore the relationship of identity and personality combined with conceptions of femininity and masculinity. Generally, from this perspective, men are viewed as needing to create something that outlasts them, to establish an heir; this is derived from the combination of a fear of mortality and as a means to dominate women and children.

The second area focuses on exploring the construction of gender, continuing the use of psychoanalytic techniques on a microlevel combined with a macrolevel analysis. In addition to continuing the study of masculinity and femininity, there is an analysis of the emergence of adult sexuality, including recognition of the female libido and the continual reinforcement of patriarchy throughout society. Societal institutions such as the economy, arts, language, science, and knowledge are also studied. This section of psychoanalytic feminism posits a need for men to create permanency through larger social structures, such as the development of business, science, art, architecture, and the amassing of wealth. This results in the establishment of a patriarchal system that serves to dominate and oppress women.

Both branches place an emphasis on studying women's roles as mother and daughter, viewing mothering as a means for understanding the continual production and reproduction of the status quo. While raising a daughter, the mother imagines her life as a child and her experiences with her own mother. This results in a deep bond with her daughter. This is also where the baby learns her identity as well as gender, through her mother, through representations of sameness. Theoretically, this creates less individuality in girls, whereas boys have more individuality, as they signify the “other” to the mother. For boys to develop their masculinity, they must separate from their mothers. It is believed by psychoanalytic feminists that if men took a more active, personal role in child rearing, a transformation would occur in our understandings of masculinity and femininity. This would also create changes in gender construction, diminishing men's domination over women and women's subordination, and increasing women's independence.

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