La Penis Envy

a critical look at the conceptual controversy

Abstract

The following paper aims to trace the concept of penis envy in women through various stages of Freud's work. The primary objective is to present the possibility of questioning this concept, not merely to refute or affirm a position, but to generate critical inquiries. Therefore, the exposition will mainly focus on understanding and elucidating a significant part of the theoretical foundation of Freudian psychoanalysis, prompting questions, concerns, and critiques. By thinking about the theory from another classic perspective, more aligned with feminist views, it might be possible to approach and interpret psychic issues, not only of sexuality but of praxis, from a different standpoint. This approach avoids always referring to destabilizing issues and instead fosters the growth of knowledge, encouraging doubt and opening paths to new potential ways of theorizing and thus interpreting the subject in our psychoanalytic practice.