The Power of Social Movements:

A Close Analysis of Freudianism and Marxism and Their Influence on Feminism

Student Number: 1251197

Question 1: Freudianism and Marxism

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The abuse. The tears. The pain. It was felt by millions of women, because for a long time

society said it’s acceptable, even encouraged, just to ensure that women never forget their

place—to ensure they don’t cross the line. The oppression of women started long ago, stripping

women of their right to pursue a meaningful life and degrading their self-worth. Radical thinkers

in western culture have challenged and examined the notions set in place, presenting both

explanations and solutions. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis and originally trained as

a physician, sought to explain the problems he witnessed by implementing his medical expertise

in neurology. His ideas on the psyche, sexuality, and child development took western society by

storm, even though many acknowledge that little scientific evidence exists to prove his claims.

Suggesting that anatomy is destiny, Freud placed great emphasis on the physical differences

between women and men. In contrast to Freud, Karl Marx, a German philosopher and

revolutionary socialist, spent his time focusing on the substructure and superstructure of society

rather than investigating the mind or body. He directed his attention to economics and envisioned

a society built on efficiency of production, completely shifting the role of women to

accommodate his vision. Both Freud and Marx introduced movements and ideas that

significantly influenced western thought on gender. While some feminists embrace their radical

beliefs, other censure Freud’s unfounded assertion that male anatomy stands superior to female

anatomy and Marx’s oversimplification of gender inequality. The shaming of the female body

and the idea that gender inequality can be resolved by simply establishing economic equality

obstructs humans from truly grasping the issues embedded within of gender inequality.

Both Freudianism and Feminism developed as reactions against one of the most

oppressive periods in western civilization, the Victorian Era, and some argue that the Freud’s

ideas advanced the very ideals feminists fought for. Perhaps Freud’s greatest achievement lies in
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his emphasis on sexuality and recognition of it as a primary force in a person’s life. It is

important to note that society will fail to function without any repression, particularly with

regards to sexual behavior, but the extent of this repression must be challenged, and Freud

successfully raises a discussion about human sexuality. In his lectures, Freud presents the idea

that within a society, people redirect their sexual energy towards something more productive, but

the very foundation of society is insecure because only with great difficulty can people control

their sexual impulses (Freud, p.23). The recognition that sexual urges are fundamentally a part of

being human paves the way for the Sexual Revolution, a revolution that has been closely linked

to the feminist movement because when a woman is sexually oppressed by society, then in a way

she gives society permission to control her body. Many feminists seek to spread the notion that

women should have complete autonomy over their bodies, and neither men nor society should

have the power to strip women of their right to control their bodies. Though it is true that both

men and women suffered from sexual oppression, it is undisputable that in western culture

women have always been held to a much higher standard of purity and constantly shamed for

pursuing sexual satisfaction. By deliberating sexuality with such great emphasis, Freud addresses

a subject that in the past has been completely avoided, and essentially disregarded. Freud claims

that “society pronounces the unacceptable to be untrue,” examining the idea that humans

essentially pick and choose their truth, or even reality, while burying all, including sexuality, that

fails to align with the notions engrained in society (Freud, p.24). His theories, which struck many

people at the time as bizarre and threatening, made a contribution to the raised awareness of

sexuality and some feminists argue that this played an important role in the eventual liberation of

women.
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Beyond just bringing forth a discussion about sexuality, Freud introduces the idea that

humans are complex beings and must be investigated at greater depths through the

implementation of psychoanalysis. Some feminists embrace Freud’s commitment to analyze

people’s subconscious because both feminism and psychoanalysis seek to challenge the status

quo and understand the roots of society and its effect on individuals. People have always

attempted to define human nature and reduce humans to simple packages, but Freud’s theory of

the id, ego, and superego suggests that much lies beneath the surface (Freud, p.22). The

complexity of people is quite difficult to grasp, considering so many subconscious thoughts and

drives govern our daily lives. Freudianism adheres to the feminist aim of understanding the

dynamics of femininity and masculinity, particularly the role society plays in it and the way

people internalize it. It is also crucial to recognize that Freud was among the first to focus on

child development and compare the tendencies of a young girl to those of a young boy. Though

he did find differences between the two genders, he concluded that both experience a sexual

impulse from a very early age and curiosity among children originally stems from sexual

problems (Freud, p.595). Some feminists believe that his theories furthered the cause of

feminism because not only did he highlight the presence of a sexual drive within women and

men, but also because he began asking controversial questions about gender.

Though some feminists believe that Freud contributed to the advancement of feminism,

others reject his ideas because his theories only perpetuated the long-standing belief that women

are less than men. Perhaps the most disturbing part of Freud’s ideology revolves around his

belief that women are envious of the male genitals. His introduction of the Castration Complex

and Penis Envy suggests that the penis is superior to the vagina and at the highest point of envy a

girl will wish she could be a boy, alluding to the idea that men are superior to women (Freud,
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p.595). Specifically, he argues that women’s loss of a penis leads to the formation of many

perversions, or abnormalities (Freud, p. 595). This idea indicates that women are not “normal,”

promoting the unsettling notion that women are simply deformed entities of men. Not only does

this harm the feminist movement, but also the worth of women in general by degrading their

existence. Theodor Reik, a prominent psychoanalyst and one of Freud’s first students, supported

Freud’s concept of Penis Envy and insisted that women, as little girls, recognize that their

genitals lack aesthetic value, leading to women’s futile pursuit of beautifying their bodies to

compensate for their unappealing genitals (Reik, quoted in Firestone, p.74). Without any

scientific evidence, both Reik and Freud concluded that women’s biological anatomy stands

inferior to that of men, inhibiting the cause of feminism. Many philosophers and thinkers, dating

back as far as Plato’s and Aristotle’s time, simply assumed that women are incomplete because

they lack a penis and, therefore, argued for the subordination of women. In order to truly reach

gender equality, society must completely abandon the belief that genitalia makes one gender

superior over the other. Feminists focus much of their energy to ensure that girls grow up proud

of who they are, because with the circulation of theories such as Penis Envy, women are

conditioned to be unsatisfied and envious of boys. Thus, the constant glorification of the male

genitals and undermining of women within Freudianism fundamentally contradicts feminism

ideals and its consequences on women, many argue, are detrimental.

In addition to the misogynistic theories Freud proclaimed, some feminists highlight the

fact that Freud spent much more time developing rationales about men and would simply apply

the opposite to women. For instance, in The Dialectic of Sex, Shulamith Firestone observes that

the Electra Complex is simply an inverse of the Oedipus Complex (Firestone, p.58). Freud, at

extensive lengths, elaborates upon the Oedipus Complex, while nearly neglecting the Electra
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Complex. This reveals a major issue in western culture. Up until the twentieth century,

intellectuals and scientists directed all their attention on men and the lack of knowledge about

women could not be denied. Since women rarely received an education, men dominated all

professional fields and chose to study male subjects to better understand the mental and physical

nature of man. Freud, along with other medical experts, rarely mentioned menstruation,

menopause, or other concerns regarding women’s health. It wasn’t too long ago when people still

believed that stomach aches from the menstrual cycle are associated with the woman’s nose.

The consistent emphasis on men and neglect of women resulted in the idea that men are more

important and created a severe shortage of knowledge about women and the female body. Thus,

many feminists reject Freud’s theories on women, since he simply viewed women as the

negative of men.

Though Freudianism made a big contribution to western thought, when discussing

feminism it is also important to identify Marxism as a prominent movement that influenced

philosophy of gender. Some feminists identify with the socialist ideals because Marxism sought

to abolish the institutions that oppress groups and hinder a society from reaching unequivocal

equality. Western culture has always stressed the importance of a traditional family structure,

and many socialists claim that the structure of a nuclear family destroys the potential of equality

between the sexes because it places women in an economically inferior position to men. Within

the institution of marriage, a man views his wife as a mere “instrument of production,” or just a

smart investment (Marx and Engels, p.35). Unarguably, for a long time, men simply perceived

women as their property and did not treat them as equal partners within a marriage, leading to the

subjugation of women. Engels, furthering his argument in The Origin of the Family, Private

Property, and the State, suggests the very nature of monogamy damages women, because while
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women must remain faithful to ensure the correct linage of inheritance, men were free to roam

around and do as they please (Engels, p.291). The presence of double standards prevents society

from viewing women as equal beings to men and perpetuates male superiority, which ultimately

provides men with a greater freedom of choice. Many double standards consider to linger in

society today even with the increased awareness of their discriminatory and offensive nature.

Narrowing in on the economic disadvantages of women within a society, socialists often

condemn the framework of family and marriage because it deprives women of economic equality

and forces them to depend on a man. Feminists often embrace this aspect of Marxism for it seeks

to reform the rigid structures of family and reconsider the traditional roles of the sexes.

Marxism also presents some progressive feminist beliefs by advocating for a society that

encompasses complete equality, enabling humans to functions together as one unit in attempts to

reach an ideal society. Within the Marxist movement, socialists seek to construct a productive

society that eliminates the socio-economic status of people, theoretically creating equality among

all people. In order to achieve this society, Engels asserts that women must enter the public

industry and should no longer be restricted to only fulfilling housewife duties (Mitchell, p.23).

This idea resonates with many feminists because it implies that women hold the potential to

work alongside men as equals, rather than being constrained to take care of a family. This will

also liberate women financially, allowing them to support themselves and no longer in need of a

husband. In other words, women now have a choice. Although the realization of a socialist

philosophy may constrain people in certain aspects, it does not favor one gender over the other

and provides equal opportunity for both men and women. Within a Marxist society, gender

appears to be of no relevance. It is a society that promotes efficient production and debunks the

long-held belief that men are naturally superior to women.

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Although some feminists identify with the values Marxism upholds, others censure

Marxist idea that gender inequality can be completely resolved by granting women equal

economic status. Specifically, Mitchell highlights the fact that a simple completion of legal

equality of the two genders left the status of women nearly unchanged and oppression persisted,

regardless of the newly established gender equality (Mitchell, p.43). Hence, gender prejudices

and disparities are significantly must not be reduced to a matter simply concerning economics.

Many people hold the misconception that the moment women become economically independent

and financially stand as equals to men, then complete equality between men and women has been

attained. Society, however, oppresses women in several ways by setting unrealistic expectations

of women and this issue lies deep within the establishment of western culture. Mitchell provides

a much more comprehensive look on the subjects that must be addressed in order to progress

towards equality by incorporating a discussion about production, reproduction, socialization, and

sexuality. It is important to recognize that even if women participated in the labor industry,

which many socialists claim would facilitate equality, majority of women will work in

supportive masculine roles. Many external societal forces influence an individual and the kind of

work he or she pursues, proving that simply sending women to work will not resolve inequality

issues. Moreover, for women to truly stand on equal grounds with men, each woman must have

complete control over her body, sexuality, and reproduction choices. This requires great

technological advancement in contraception and the accessibility of preventative medicine.

Society has predisposed women to believe that certain choices regarding sex and reproduction

are more acceptable than others, which undermines women’s power over their own bodies.

There are so many underlying ideas in western society that continue to suppress women and

exploit their bodies. Lastly, socialization places a crucial role in the debate about gender equality
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because the bonds infants form with close ones and their understanding of concepts such as

family will influence them extensively for the rest of their lives. Some feminists will also insist

that family and the institution of marriages do not need to be entirely dissolved, but rather

reformed to a more fluid structure that is not inherently oppressive of one gender or the other. As

previously evidenced, equality between the sexes requires a much more thorough analysis of

people and society. An economics approach leads to a gross oversimplification of the issue at

hand. For this reason, feminists tend to repudiate the Marxist sole focus on economics.

Both Freudianism and Marxism left a mark on feminism. These theories, influenced by

other movements present at the time, targeted two main social issues: gender inequality and

repression of sexuality. Though Freud did express radical and sometimes even progressive ideas,

I believe that his depiction of women as disfigured beings alludes to an anti-feminist attitude and

his attempt to explain human sexuality is simply incomplete. In The Dialectic of Sex, Firestone

presents the interesting argument that “Freud was merely a diagnostician for what Feminism

purports to cure” (Firestone, p.50). Through his lectures and teachings, Freud perpetuates the

irrational and offensive idea that men embody the perfect form, while women are an

abnormality, or a “mistake” in a sense. While men’s genitalia should be the objects of pride and

power, women’s ought to be concealed in shame. This idea not only hinders the feminist cause

but also conditions women to believe that worth lies in one’s biological anatomy rather than

actions. Additionally, Freud neglected to discuss the idea that sexuality constitutes of more than

male to female relationships (Lehrman, p.85). Even though he believed in the significance of

discussing sexuality, he viewed female to female sexual attraction as a disorder that must be

treated. Essentially, Freud still clung to many traditional views, despite having some

revolutionary ideas, and failed to challenge the very structure of society itself.
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With regards to Marxism, I feel that the matter of gender equality cannot be simply

broken down to economics and, perhaps most importantly, gender equality can be attained

without the complete abolition of the family structure. Though economics have dictated a large

portion of human history, many factors have to be considered if we hope to one day live in a

society free of inequality. Social issues are the integration of several influences present in society

and all the factors involved must be examined. Marxism did, however, bring to light the

importance of re-evaluating the family structure and the institution of marriage. By adopting a

more malleable structure of family, women and men can continue to form families without

oppression, because ultimately the family framework in itself doesn’t oppress women, but it is

rather the dynamic between partners that holds the potential to.

The fact that feminism has evolved to become the aggregation of several different

movements and ideologies has become evident after an analysis of two completely different

philosophies. Though feminists would reject several of the ideas Freudianism and Marxism

promote, it is imperative to recognize that these radical movements sparked a debate within the

feminist community. These discussions are incredibly crucial if we hope to advance our society.

Inequality and oppression of marginalized groups has been an on-going battle in western society,

but by raising awareness of the issues present and renouncing the myths that have been

engrained in our minds, we are gradually approaching a society in which people can all stand on

equal grounds. Perhaps in just a generation or two our society will be cleansed of all underlying

prejudices and finally free of discrimination.