Cultural, historical and psychoanalytic contributions to female identity in China: a discussion of articles by Tong Jun and Wang Qian

Abstract

This article offers a discussion of two articles that are both considerations of the intersection of culture and the psyche. The development and conflicts within the Chinese woman's psyche are examined within the context of the history, values, and culture of China. This article considers the place of the powerful maternal imago in understanding the denigration of the feminine position. The presence of unconscious fantasy along with intergenerational trauma is examined, particularly in instances of misogyny. The contributions to the psychoanalytic theory of femininity and female development is reviewed with a discussion of clinical application.