The transferable penis and the self representation.

Abstract

A group of female patients is described whose self representation includes significant male as well as female aspects, but who are not perverse or borderline. The unconscious fantasy of a transferable penis found in these patients is linked to specific etiologic factors including only intermittently available, unempathic early mothering and a prolonged incestuous post-oedipal father-daughter sexual relationship. Use is made of the concept of differing and conflicting aspects of the self-representation to elucidate the particular nature of these patients' bisexual fantasies, which allowed appropriate sexual gender and role to develop, and yet which, at times, also permitted drive gratification associated with the fantasy of being male and possessing a penis.