A Story of Her Own
The Female Oedipus Complex Reexamined and Renamed
By (author) Nancy Kulish, Deanna Holtzman
Not available to order
Publication date:
01 January 2008Length of book:
192 pagesPublisher
Jason Aronson, Inc.ISBN-13: 9781461636373
A Story of Her Own is a reformulation of the psychoanalytic concept of the 'female oedipal complex'—a term that encompasses the triangular development phase and the important conflicts and experiences in girls and women. Inspired by the mythic role in human experience and in the unique aspects of femininity, Nancy Kulish and Deanna Holtzman formulate a new name—'The Persephone Complex'—for this concept. They integrate traditional psychoanalytic theory, contemporary theories and data about female development and psychology, and clinical experience with female patients into a comprehensive theory that is not based on male models. With accumulated knowledge from their clinical work, they present new psychoanalytic and therapeutic perspectives on the experience of girls and women attempting to uncover a sense of agency in their lives. They touch upon the unique ways women cope with their sexuality and feelings about their bodies; with feelings of anger, competition, and jealousy; and with their ever-evolving relationships with their mothers, fathers, peers, and lovers.
An encyclopedic critique and synthesis of the relevant psychoanalytic literature, A Story of Her Own is a remarkable contribution to the psychoanalytic understanding of the female personality. These distinguished psychoanalysts propose a major revision of the theory of female development. Traditional concepts of the female Oedipus complex are replaced with a new model of the firls' triangular situation, the myth of Persephone instead of Oedipus. the female Persephone vividly depicts the cyclical female experience, encompassing pregnancy, birth, rebirth, and death, as well as bisexuality. Persephone balances loyalties and relationships to both parents, a rival for father's love, while retaining her mother's love and love of her mother.Drawing upon psychoanalytic practice, Nancy Kulish and Deanna Holtzman further enrich our knowledge integrating interdisciplinary studies of mythology, ethnology, literature, and art. Elucidating and challenging traditional formulations, they provide fascinating and original ideas, rewarding for all analytically oriented readers.