The Castration Complex in Women*

The castration complex in women has been recognized recently as being of great importance, but it is almost daily forced upon me that it is much more far-reaching and of even greater importance in their character formation than is frequently recognized. It should be hardly necessary for me to explain the meaning of the term “castration complex” as applied to women; but as the term in itself is a poor one, and since I often come across people who have no clear conception of its meaning, I will venture briefly to do so.

From earliest times the male genital organs have been used as the chief emblem of power and as one of the foundation-stones of primitive religions. There is no need to recapitulate the various forms which phallic worship has taken through all ages as they are already well known; but it is not generally realized that the symbol of the phallus has simultaneously been accepted unconsciously, by both men and women, as an outstanding mark of fertility, of potency, and of superiority. Strictly speaking, the word “castration”refers to the actual loss of those parts of the male genital organs which contribute to sexual potency, and, as originally used, the term “castration complex” referred to the unconscious fear in the male lest he should lose his potency. The study of the various ramifications of this complex, however, led to the finding that in many cases there has been no actual fear of loss of potency, but a fear lest potency and superiority should never be acquired. The fear lest potency should never be acquired implies at least the wish to acquire