Chapter 4) The Differentiation Between Men and Women of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality - Study Guide by Sigmund Freud

4) The Differentiation Between Men and Women

From puberty onwards, the difference between men and women, and its distinctness has huge amounts of influence on the shaping of human life. Resultant sex differences include - earlier and readier development of the inhibitions of sexuality (shame, disgust, pity etc.) in girls than in boys, but auto-erotic activity is more of a masculine nature - even manifest in girls.

Leading Zones in Men and Women

The leading erotogenic zone in the female children is the clitoris, and is homologous to the masculine genital zone of the glans. When however women transfer erotic susceptibility to stimulation from the clitoris to the vaginal orifice, it is implied that she has adopted a new leading zone for the purposes of her later sexual activity. A man on the other hand retains his leading zone unchanged from childhood.