ABSTRACT
Freud described die development of psychosexuality in terms of three pairings: active/passive at the anal sadistic stage; universal penis/castrated penis at the phallic stage; and masculine/feminine at puberty—that is, the so-called "genital" stage. In this chapter, the author draw a distinction between the feminine sphere—which is internal and invisible—and femininity—which is visible, goes hand-in-hand with the phallic dimension, involves illusion and masquerade, and is a reassurance against castration anxiety for both men and women. The work of the feminine dimension in men consists in allowing their penis to be taken over by the constant thrust of their libido, whereas the pleasure principle may incite them to function quite happily according to a periodic rhythm of tension and discharge. The adult "genital" libidinal component is the most difficult and violent of all: it mobilizes the entire strength of those anal and phallic defences that we could call the "refusal of the feminine dimension".
