Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in WomenEllis, Havelock
Science
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3: Analysis of the Sexual Impulse; Love and Pain; The Sexual Impulse in Women
Ellis, Havelock
Sex; Sex (Psychology)
It is instructive to observe that Adler himself knows no "pure" case of
this condition. To find such a case he has to go back nearly two centuries
to Madame de Warens, to whom he devotes a whole chapter. He has,
moreover, had the courage in writing this chapter to rely entirely on
Rousseau's _Confessions_, which were written nearly half a century later
than the episodes they narrated, and are therefore full of inaccuracies,
besides being founded on an imperfect and false knowledge of Madame de
Warens's earlier life, and written by a man who was, there can be no
doubt, not able to arouse women's passions. Adler shows himself completely
ignorant of the historical investigations of De Montet, Mugnier, Ritter,
and others which, during recent years, have thrown a flood of light on the
life and character of Madame de Warens, and not even acquainted with the
highly significant fact that she was hysterical.[162] This is the basis of
"fact" on which we are asked to accept _anæsthesia sexualis completa
idiopathica!_[163]
"In dealing with the alleged absence of the sexual impulse," a
well-informed medical correspondent writes from America, "much
caution has to be used in accepting statements as to its absence,
from the fact that most women fear by the admission to place
themselves in an impure category. I am also satisfied that influx
of women into universities, etc., is often due to the sexual
impulse causing restlessness, and that this factor finds
expression in the prurient prudishness so often presenting itself
in such women, which interferes with coeducation. This is
becoming especially noticeable at the University of Chicago,
where prudishness interferes with classical, biological,
sociological, and physiological discussion in the classroom.
There have been complaints by such women that a given professor
has not left out embryological facts not in themselves in any way
implying indelicacy. I have even been informed that the opinion
is often expressed in college dormitories that embryological
facts and discussions should be left out of a course intended for
both sexes." Such prudishness, it is scarcely necessary to
remark, whether found in women or men, indicates a mind that has
become morbidly sensitive to sexual impressions. For the healthy
mind embryological and allied facts have no emotionally sexual
significance, and there is, therefore, no need to shun them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account