Lesbianism : a post-structural/post-modernist critique of selected theories relevant to clinical practice

This paper aims to provide a critical framework from which to review the major trends in psychiatry and psychoanalysis pertaining to lesbianism and relevant to clinical practice. The post-structuralist/post-modernist framework employed considers lesbianism as a category constructed in a particular socio-historical context and involving particular power relations. The role of psychiatry and psychoanalysis in this process of categorisation and the production and reproduction of lesbianism as pathology relative to a heterosexual norm will also be examined. On the other hand, challenges to the lesbianism as pathology thesis, drawing on more radical psychoanalytic concepts, influencing and also influenced by post-structuralist/post-modernist theories will be discussed. Various suggestions flowing from a post-structuralist/post-modernist analysis and which may be useful in a clinical context will also be presented.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Ensink, Karin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Levett, Ann

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13550

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13550