The Use of the Hair as a Bi-Sexual Symbol1

In the psychoanalyses of female and male patients in whom a preoccupation with the hair was a notable symptom, I found that the hair had become the symbol for the expression of their unconscious bi-sexual conflict. The analysis of these patients revealed that certain features specific to the hair made the hair especially suitable for the dramatization of this conflict. The fluctuation and changes in their attitude towards the hair corresponded to the changes in the basic conflict during analysis. The case material will illustrate this.

Case 1. Hilda had come to analysis at 15 years of age because of severe anxiety attacks and hypochondriachal fears. The analysis soon revealed that Hilda felt threatened by intense homosexual impulses. Only few of the important data of Hilda's history can be stated briefly. There had occurred a marked change in her personality at puberty following maturation and the onset of menses. She had changed from an alert and outgoing child into a withdrawn, disinterested girl who, in spite of her high intellectual endowment, was failing in school. She had lost interest in her appearance, was overweight and rationalized her preference for slacks and boy's shirts with her figure, yet was unable to reduce. All during this time Hilda had shown much concern about her hair, which she was wearing long and flowing and which nobody was allowed to touch. She devoted much time and attention to its care.

At the time of the episode of interest Hilda was 17 years old and in the second year of her analysis. She was coming closer to accepting her femaleness, a fact which came out in a renewed interest in feminine clothes and in a more sustained attempt to reduce weight. The theme of a haircut had appeared in her analysis now for some time. While Hilda very much wanted to have a stylish haircut, she could not decide upon it, and was using all kinds of rationalizations against it. She finally made the decision, and the night before the event she had the following