Gender and transgender: a metapsychological contribution to the genesis of the sexual ego

ABSTRACT

Transsexuality or transgender has become an increasingly visible and widespread phenomenon in recent years. From a psychoanalytic perspective, it has so far not been possible to understand the lack of identification with one's own anatomical body. The author distinguishes between the formation of an early body ego as a result of primary identification and that of a sexual ego as part of secondary identifications. Identical and trans-identical orientation could arise against the background of how, when gender difference is discovered, the primary identification is processed, ‘translated', in an ‘après-coup’ movement.

Les phénomènes transsexuels ou transgenres sont devenus de plus en plus visibles et répandus ces dernières années. La perspective psychanalytique n'a pas permis jusqu'à présent d'éclairer la compréhension du manque d'identification de l'individu à son propre corps anatomique. L'auteure de cet article établit une distinction entre la formation d'un moi corporel précoce, issu de l'identification primaire, et celle d'un moi sexuel, produit en partie par les identifications secondaires. L'orientation identique ou trans-identique prendrait sa source dans la façon dont l'identification primaire est intégrée et « traduite » après-coup, au moment de la découverte de la différence des sexes.

Transsexualität bzw. Transidentität ist in den letzten Jahren ein zunehmend sichtbares und sich verbreitendes Phänomen geworden. Aus psychoanalytischer Perspektive ist bisher nicht gelungen, das Ausbleiben von Identifizierung mit dem eigenen anatomischen Körper nachzuvollziehen. Die Autorin unterscheidet zwischen der Ausbildung eines frühen Körper-Ichs in Folge primärer Identifizierung und der eines geschlechtlichen Ichs im Rahmen sekundärer Identifizierungen. Idente und transidente Orientierung könnte entstehen vor dem Hintergrund, wie mit dem Entdecken des Geschlechtsunterschiedes die primäre Identifizierung in einer nachträglichen Bewegung verarbeitet, „übersetzt“ wird.

Negli ultimi anni i fenomeni della transessualità e dell'identità transgenere sono divenuti sempre più visibili e diffusi. Finora non è stato possibile comprendere la mancanza di identificazione con il proprio corpo anatomico da una prospettiva psicoanalitica. L'autrice distingue tra la formazione di un io corporeo precoce, frutto dell'identificazione promaria, e quella di un io sessuale che farebbe invece parte del quadro delle identificazioni secondarie. Alla base dell'orientamento identico o trans-identico potrebbero esserci una serie di fattori: non solo il modo e il momento in cui è stata scoperta la differenza sessuale, ma anche il modo in cui l'identificazione primaria viene elaborata e 'tradotta' in un movimento di 'après-coup''.

En los últimos años, la transexualidad o transgénero se ha convertido en un fenómeno cada vez más visible y extendido. Aún no ha sido posible comprender, desde una perspectiva psicoanalítica, la falta de identificación con el propio cuerpo anatómico. La autora distingue entre la formación de un yo corporal temprano como resultado de la identificación primaria y la formación de un yo sexual en el marco de las identificaciones secundarias. La orientación idéntica y transidéntica podría surgir en la manera en que se procesa la identificación primaria en el contexto del descubrimiento de la diferencia entre los sexos, “traducida” en un movimiento après-coup.

KEYWORDS:

• Transsexuality/transgender – gender/anatomy – construction of the ego – the “sexual” – primary/secondary identifications

Notes

1 The concept of “transgender” is becoming established in the literature on this subject in contrast to that of “transsexuality”. The conceptual spiriting away of the sexual may have some justification here, I will argue, when the phenomenon is due chiefly to the self-image and only becomes sexual in a more restricted sense in an après-coup.

2 The 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) describes “transsexualism” (F64.0) as one of several “gender identity disorders” (F64) and classifies them all as “disorders of adult personality and behaviour” (F60).

3 The total figures are so low (by the most varied estimates approximately 0.05–0.5% of the population is affected by transgender) that a statistically secured substantiation of an increase seems difficult. (This is not referring to phenomena such as “gender fluidity”.) We are referring to the impression of professionals in this context. Thus, for instance, Sophinette Becker wrote about the “fact that in recent years in children and adolescents above all the number of girls with a transgender wish has rapidly increased” (Becker 2019, 293, translated quotation). Bell observes a “sudden huge increase in children and adolescents being referred to specialist centres” (2020, 1031).

4 Reference is made in this text alternately to the “nucleus of the ego” (Freud’s concept, 1923) and the “primary” ego in relation to the primary work of identification.

5 For instance she speaks with the child, although the child has not (yet) mastered language.

6 There are numerous testimonies to this on YouTube.

7 In Freud it is called “ego-ideal” (Ich-Ideal), but reference here is to the ideal ego in the sense used by Lacan and Lagache.

8 The concept of Nachträglichkeit has been explored primarily in French psychoanalysis. Its designation as “après-coup” underlines its potentially traumatic effect (Lacan 1950; Green 2000).