Some Observations Regarding Men's Contemporary Views on Women

It seems to me that short of experimental data, comments in an area touching on psychosocial issues must begin with a disclaimer. First, the observations that I am about to make are based in part on a very small sample indeed, namely my current male patients—numbering five. In addition there is approximately an equal number of male students whose work I am supervising. Of course one hears about male attitudes from women, both patients and students. These sources, plus general impressions derived from my social life form the basis of my observations. The data are rendered still more unreliable by subjectivity on all sides—my own, as well as that of those reporting on themselves and others. In addition the data derive from a limited and specifically atypical sector of the population of Western society —a highly sophisticated, generally intellectual, middle-class urban group. Furthermore, the data are contaminated by the fact that in the case of a number of individuals we are dealing with well-defined psychological conflict, not to speak of pathology, which has its origins primarily in the experiences of childhood. Yet, with a full awareness of these drawbacks, it seems worthwhile noting my observations, which have been made against a background of my own historical life experience. By comparison, they confirm the influence of recent and rapid social change on individual psychology.

There can be no doubt that the social and psychological position of women has changed radically within the last two decades. The change is more gradual than it would seem and many factors that go further back in time played a role in bringing this about: (1) technological advances—both labor-saving and birth-control devices—freed women from the exclusive use of their time for domestic work and child-rearing, thus enabling them to give expression to