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The title of this paper provokes expectations which are not fulfilled. Frankenthal discusses the fact that we are witnessing a deterioration of the institution of the family, but she neither investigates the causes of this deterioration, nor its significance for the individual character structure. She limits herself to discussing the direct consequences of this deterioration in the sex life of adults.
Woman's biological 'weakness' lies in the possibility of being deserted when pregnant; man's, of never being sure whether he is the father of his children. The institution of the family was a social protection against the dangers of these biological weaknesses. No new institutions have as yet been found to substitute for this protection. However, modern cultural changes also have their advantages: Sex is no longer confined to marriage and women are no longer mere child bearing machines but are permitted to enjoy sexuality without paying the penalty of unwanted pregancy.
Unfortunately, these reflections are accompanied by polemics against Freud based on misunderstanding such as: 'To those who think in accordance with Freud, women are inevitably inferior by reason of their anatomy and biology'. It is not difficult to polemize against so oversimplified a presentation of Freud's ideas.