Psychoanalysis and Gender: An Introductory Reader PDF
Preview Psychoanalysis and Gender: An Introductory Reader
PSYCHOANALYSIS AND GENDER Since its creation by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalytic theory has informed, influenced and sometimes enraged writers who are concerned with issues of gender and feminism. Rosalind Minsky’s volume provides a clear, accessible and unpretentious introduction to the concepts of and key thinkers in psychoanalytic theory. The first part of the volume offers the fundamentals of psychoanalytic theory and the major writers who worked in the field, exploring how the theory is relevant in both the academic and political realms. The second part demonstrates this theory in practice with an anthology of seminal essays by Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Lacan, Kristeva and Irigaray. Together these parts combine to provide readers with the necessary vocabulary and knowledge to apply psychoanalytic theory to their studies. Writing specifically for students, Minsky discusses the key issues in straight forward, jargon-free prose. Psychoanalysis and Gender: An introductory reader is an essential guide to this major field. Any student interested in issues of gender will find it an invaluable introduction. Rosalind Minsky is a lecturer in the Department of Arts and Letters at Anglia Polytechnic University. Critical Readers in Theory and Practice general editor: Rick Rylance, Anglia Polytechnic University The gap between theory and practice can often seem far too wide for the student of literary theory. Critical Readers in Theory and Practice is a new series which bridges that gap: it not only offers an introduction to a range of literary and theoretical topics, but also applies the theories to relevant texts. Each volume is split into two parts: the first consists of an in-depth and clear introduction, setting out the theoretical bases, historical developments and contemporary critical situation of the topic. The theory is then applied to practice in the second part in an anthology of classic texts and essays. Designed specifically with the student in mind, Critical Readers in Theory and Practice provides an essential introduction to contemporary theories and how they relate to textual material. Bakhtinian Thought: An introductory reader Simon Dentith War Poetry: An introductory reader Simon Featherstone The Postmodern Arts: An introductory reader Nigel Wheale Psychoanalysis and Gender: An introductory reader Rosalind Minsky PSYCHOANALYSIS AND GENDER An introductory reader ROSALIND MINSKY O Routledge Taylor & Francis Group NEW YORK AND LONDON First published 1996 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon 0X14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 1996 Rosalind Minsky Typeset in Janson by Ponting-Green Publishing Services, Chesham, Bucks All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Minsky, Rosalind. Psychoanalysis and Gender: An introductory reader / Rosalind Minsky p. cm. - (Critical Readers in Theory and Practice) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Psychoanalysis and feminism. 2. Femininity (Psychology) I. Title. II. Series. BF175.4.F45M56 1996 ij-o.i9yo82-dc2o 95-16457 ISBN 0-415-09220-5 (hbk) ISBN 0-415-09221-3 (pbk) For David, Rod\ Simon and Genia This page intentionally left blank We know more than we know we know. (Michael Polanyi) Concepts can never be presented to me merely, they must be knitted into the structure of my being, and this can only be done through my own activity (M.P. Follett, ‘Creative Experience’) Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of re-arranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know__Hence, to think creatively we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted. (George Kneller, ‘The Art and Science of Creativity’) This page intentionally left blank Contents General editor’s preface xi Preface xii Acknowledgements xiv List of abbreviations xv Parti Introduction: psychoanalysis and the unconscious 3 1 Freud: the rejection of femininity 25 Commentary on ‘Femininity* 47 Discussion 62 Presences and absences 72 Suggested reading 75 2 Klein: phantasy and the mother 78 Commentary on A Study of Envy and Gratitude 91 Discussion 97 Presences and absences 106 Suggested reading 107 3 Winnicott: the ‘good enough’ mother 110 Commentary on ‘Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena’ 124 Discussion 128 Presences and absences 133 Suggested reading 135 4 Lacan: the meaning of the phallus 137 Commentary on ‘The Meaning of the Phallus’ 163 Discussion 168 Presences and absences 175 Suggested reading 176 [ix]
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