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The case in Freud's (1920) “The Psychogenesis of a Case of Homosexuality in a Woman,” although brief, unsuccessful, and abruptly terminated by Freud himself, nonetheless provided Freud with the opportunity to outline a general approach to the problem of homosexuality. Likewise, we can use it to contrast self psychology's approach to homosexuality with Freud's, and see how far we have come in grappling with a problem that is laden with political and cultural dilemmas as well as clinical issues.
The case itself often makes for awkward reading today. On one hand we can see Freud trying to identify and break free from the traditional cultural stereotypes that surrounded homosexuality in his day. Almost as pernicious were the quasi-scientific explanations about the role of hormones and other biological factors that were being considered. Nonetheless, Freud's — perhaps inevitable — blindness to what now appears to be a host of cultural preconceptions about masculinity, femininity, normality, and deviance mar his attempts at objectivity.
The case revolves around an 18-year-old girl brought for treatment by her parents. Outwardly compliant, she nevertheless was being seen against her will. We are told, “She had aroused displeasure and concern in her parents by the devoted adoration with which she pursued a certain lady ‘in society’who was about ten years older than herself” (Freud 1920, p. 202).** The parents claimed that this woman had a notorious reputation, and was known to be flagrantly carrying on affairs with both women and