Exploring Freud's Outdated Sex Theories and Their Impact
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Chapter 1: The Legacy of Freud's Sexual Theories
What do women truly desire in the bedroom? The answer lies far from the musings of Freud.
Sigmund Freud's approach to human sexuality lacked scientific rigor. When faced with the complexities of sexual behavior, such as understanding the female orgasm, he would formulate theories while disregarding any contradictory evidence. This behavior exemplified confirmation bias, the very antithesis of sound scientific research.
As a result, Freud's theories have perplexed scholars for over a century, marked by inaccuracies, unethical research practices, and unreliable sources. For instance, in one paper, he misrepresented the chemical structure of cocaine on two occasions. It’s worth noting that his daily consumption of cocaine likely clouded his judgment.
While some of Freud's ideas may hold weight, his views on female sexuality range from absurd to blatantly misogynistic. Below are some of his more bizarre theories that have negatively influenced perceptions of sexuality.
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The Vaginal vs. Clitoral Orgasm
In his 1905 work, "Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality," Freud attempted to answer the perennial question: "What do women want?" His conclusion was that women desire a penis—specifically, penis-in-vagina (PIV) sex.
Although Freud acknowledged the clitoris as an erogenous zone, he viewed it as inferior to the vagina. Thus, if a woman achieved orgasm through clitoral stimulation, he labeled her as "hysterical," attributing her pleasure to uncontrolled desire. He defined clitoral orgasms as "immature," in contrast to what he deemed "mature" vaginal orgasms, suggesting that true sexual fulfillment required penetration.
In reality, the concept of a vaginal orgasm is a myth. Orgasms resulting from penetrative sex are primarily due to stimulation of the clitoral network and vestibular bulbs surrounding the vaginal canal. Freud's misunderstanding of female anatomy continues to adversely affect sexual experiences today, leading to the "orgasm gap," where only 65% of heterosexual women report regular orgasms compared to 95% of heterosexual men.
Freud's dismissal of the clitoris stemmed from his belief that it overshadowed the penis, and he even posited that women secretly desired to possess one.
Penis Envy: A Misguided Notion
Freud's concept of "penis envy" arose from his belief that when girls encounter the larger penises of their male counterparts, they perceive them as superior. This realization supposedly instills a longing for a penis, akin to a child wishing for a bigger cookie. Freud wrote, "The hope of someday obtaining a penis in spite of everything and so of becoming like a man may persist to an incredibly late age and may become