Discuss the psychodynamic approach of gender development. (16 marks)
The basic assumption of the psychodynamic approach is the emphasis on the role of the
unconscious and development through psychosexual stages. Freud states that for young
children to acquire their gender identity, they must first identify with the same-sex
parent and then internalize their gendered attitudes and behaviours, adopting them as
their own.
During the phallic stage of development at ages 3-6, children establish and develop their
gender identity, either masculine or feminine. Individuals construct their gender identity
after experiencing the Oedipus or Electra complex.
In the Oedipus complex, boys experience feelings of sexual desire for their mother and
crave their attention during the phallic stage. They see their father as a rival and fear
him finding out, experiencing castration anxiety. Eventually, boys resolve this by
repressing their desires for their mothers and identifying with their fathers’ gender
roles, attitudes, and behaviours, internalizing these as their own gender traits.
In the Electra complex, girls experience desire for their fathers and strong resentment
towards their mothers as they have penis envy. Eventually, the desires are repressed,
and penis envy is substituted by the desire for a baby. Then, girls identify with their
mother, and her attitude and behaviours will be internalized as their own gender traits.
This approach lacks temporal validity. With the rise of single parent and same-sex
households, the theory would claim that children in such family structures would be
unable to resolve their complexes, thus struggle with their gender identity. This is
socially sensitive and such claims would justify and fuel prejudiced treatment of people
who deviate away from outdated ideals of family structures. Thus, this approach lacks
temporal validity and is not sensitive to the diversity of societies.
The basic assumption of the psychodynamic approach is the emphasis on the role of the
unconscious and development through psychosexual stages. Freud states that for young
children to acquire their gender identity, they must first identify with the same-sex
parent and then internalize their gendered attitudes and behaviours, adopting them as
their own.
During the phallic stage of development at ages 3-6, children establish and develop their
gender identity, either masculine or feminine. Individuals construct their gender identity
after experiencing the Oedipus or Electra complex.
In the Oedipus complex, boys experience feelings of sexual desire for their mother and
crave their attention during the phallic stage. They see their father as a rival and fear
him finding out, experiencing castration anxiety. Eventually, boys resolve this by
repressing their desires for their mothers and identifying with their fathers’ gender
roles, attitudes, and behaviours, internalizing these as their own gender traits.
In the Electra complex, girls experience desire for their fathers and strong resentment
towards their mothers as they have penis envy. Eventually, the desires are repressed,
and penis envy is substituted by the desire for a baby. Then, girls identify with their
mother, and her attitude and behaviours will be internalized as their own gender traits.
This approach lacks temporal validity. With the rise of single parent and same-sex
households, the theory would claim that children in such family structures would be
unable to resolve their complexes, thus struggle with their gender identity. This is
socially sensitive and such claims would justify and fuel prejudiced treatment of people
who deviate away from outdated ideals of family structures. Thus, this approach lacks
temporal validity and is not sensitive to the diversity of societies.
