Vicissitudes of bisexuality - Crucial points and clinical implications

The author begins by noting that the heuristic value of the concept of bise xuality can be explored in two directions, involving respectively its role in psychopathology and in the development of creativity and thought. The au thor concentrates on the first of these aspects, which entails a reconsider ation of the 'phallic question'. The status of femininity is investigated o n the basis of Freud's and Winnicott's theories of bisexuality and the auth or here finds an explanation for the reputation of femininity and for the ' phallic question' thereby implied, which represents the underlying bedrock resulting in interminable analyses. An important element in this rejection is stated to be the maternal aspect of femininity. Particularly reference i s made to the somatic roots of phallic defences and to their effects on tho ught and symbolisation. Some brief clinical examples al e presented to sugg est that the bedrock may be due to the distorted use of sensoriality and of the el otogenic zones. The author contends that the anal zone plays a cruc ial part in the manifestations of bisexuality and contrasts phallic logic w ith the logic of triangulation. Numerous literature references and clinical examples support and illustrate her arguments throughout. The author ends with a discussion of the implications of bisexuality for thought and knowle dge.