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When one undertakes the task of presenting or of discussing a work which has been previously defined in its scope and subjected to certain norms and special circumstances, the first thing one must do is to clarify the central question. On this occasion the central question is female sexuality in the work of Sigmund Freud, its theories (concepts and developments) and its expositive process.
Burness Moore (this issue) refers explicitly to the central theme of the Dialogue and advises the reading of Strachey's note and of his own work dealing with frigidity (Moore, 1964) in which he has a valuable bibliography of previous contributors. Following the recommendations of the Programme Committee of this Congress he proposes the discussion of Freud's major concepts from the vantage point of recent advances in ego psychology, in direct observations of children, and in biology.
Janine Chasseguet-Smirgel (this issue) concentrates on those of Freud's works which refer to the theme of female sexuality, clarifies certain points and works through others to their ultimate conclusion. She emphasizes especially 'sexual phallic monism', human bisexuality, the role of the mother in Freudian theory and also the role of countertransference in promoting or impeding the process that leads to knowledge about female sexuality.
Following the methodological perspectives proposed by Moore, I shall occupy myself with the biological, the observational and the psychological.
That the biological is an essential factor in the human being is accepted by every analyst, and this biological 'destiny' manifests itself in the anatomical.
The adjective 'feminine' qualifies the woman as the biological organism which, after pregnancy, is responsible for the process of gestation, parturition, lactation and certain aspects of child care. Men and women are endowed with different although corresponding genital organs with specific products: the ovum and the spermatozoon, each with different chromosomatic formula