Unleashing Our Unknown Selves: An Inquiry Into the Future of Femininity and Masculinity

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This volume presents a theory of psychosexual development and, concurrently, of psychosocial evolution. The author claims that the sexual division of nature was a primordial organizing principle for all cultures. However, evolving qualities and psychological characteristics have been asssigned by culture to women and men. Real biological differences have, over millennia, been incorporated, absorbed or superseded by cultural differences. The resultant schism between femininity and masculinity represents the deepest cleavage in the human species, crippling both men and women through the cultural subordination of women. Morrow believes that to be truly "whole", both sexes must be allowed to release the repressed qualities of the opposite sex. France Morrow's interdisciplinary focus finds hope in the explanatory power of a theory which systematically explores the crippling of both sexes by the cultural invisibility of women. The book's chapters explore, among other subjects, the structure of gender evolution, Sigmund Freud's impact of the future of femininity and masculinity and the internal repression of the "majority self". Morrow's study argues that the dependence of human survival depends on the integrating of people's feminist selves with their masculine selves. Her work is particularly directed to courses in developmental and social psychology, gender studies, sociology and women's studies.

Reviews

"A classic study . . . an important perspective in gender development and social evolution. . . . Many will build gender-inclusive, interdisciplinary studies of their own upon this solid base."-Dee L. Aker Director, Graduate School of Human Behavior United States International University
"Unleashing Our Unknown Selves begins with a critique of central paradigms in contemporary social science and ends with a provocative new theory of psychosexual development. Dr. Morrow brilliantly demonstrates why men are just as damaged as women by our present patriarchal sex/gender system. . . . I highly recommend [it] as a primary text for graduate courses in human development, psychology of gender, and cultural studies."- Joseph L. White Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Comparative Culture University of California, Irvine
"Unleashing Our Unknown Selves is a masterful and powerfully argued exploration of the nature, development, and consequences of the crucial, universal, and inevitable experience of psychosexual development. At the same time, it draws upon the tradition of Freud and his heirs, and also goes beyond them into new ground. It is reasonable to conclude from this book that gender and its development is the salient feature of individual life and group activity; and that, important as it is, it has never been adequately understood before Professor Morrow's book."- Jay Martin Leo S. Bing Professor University of Southern California

Author Bio

FRANCE MORROW is an instructor at the United States International University, Graduate School of Human Behavior, in Irvine, California. Ms. Morrow has taught graduate level courses in the fields of psychology, sociology, ethnic (women's) studies, and the fine arts, and is an active supporter of environmental and women's movements.