Dora, Hysteria and Gender

Freud’s Dora case and contemporary debates on gender, sexuality and queer theory
‘Dora’ is one the most important and interesting case studies Sigmund Freud conducted and later described. It constitutes a key text in his oeuvre and finds itself at the crossroads of his studies in hysteria, the theory of sexuality and dream interpretation. The Dora case is both a literary and theoretically ground-breaking text and an account of a ‘failed’ treatment. In Dora, Hysteria and Gender renowned Freud scholars reflect on the Dora case, presenting various innovative and controversial perspectives and elaborating the significance of the text for contemporary debates on gender, sexuality and queer theory.

This volume is of interest for psychoanalysts and scholars working on psychoanalysis, sexuality, gender, queer theory, philosophical anthropology and literary studies.

Contributors: Rachel B. Blass (Heythrop College, University of London), Daniela Finzi (Sigmund Freud Foundation), Esther Hutfless (University of Vienna), Ulrike Kadi (Medical University of Vienna), Ilka Quindeau (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences), Beatriz Santos (University Paris VII Diderot), Philippe Van Haute (Radboud University Nijmegen), Herman Westerink (Radboud University Nijmegen), Jeanne Wolff-Bernstein (Sigmund Freud University in Vienna)

This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

Preface Monika Pessler
Introduction Daniela Finzi and Herman Westerink
Narrative Strategies and Hermeneutic Desire: Constructions of a Case History Daniela Finzi
The Analytic Denial of Freud’s Struggle with the Understanding of Dora: Simplifying the Oedipus Complex and the Process of its Adoption Rachel B. Blass
Sexuality and Knowledge in Dora’s Case Beatriz Santos
Trauma and Disgust: Dora between Freud and Laplanche Philippe Van Haute
Sucking, Kissing and Disgust – Dora and the Theory of Infantile Sexuality Herman Westerink
Dora, the Un-Ending and ever Unraveling Story Jeanne Wolff Bernstein
On the Signification of Dora’s Father Ulrike Kadi
From Dora to Conchita: Recent Views on Gender and Sexuality in Psychoanalysis Ilka Quindeau
The Case of Dora – A Queer Perspective on Hysteria and Perversion Esther Hutfless
Notes on the Contributors

Daniela Finzi

Daniela Finzi is the head of the research department of the Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna and member of the board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation.

Herman Westerink

Herman Westerink is endowed and associate professor at the Center for Contemporary European Philosophy at Radboud University Nijmegen.

Daniela Finzi

Daniela Finzi is the head of the research department of the Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna and member of the board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation.

Herman Westerink

Herman Westerink is endowed and associate professor at the Center for Contemporary European Philosophy at Radboud University Nijmegen.

Rachel B. Blass

Beatriz Santos

Philippe Van Haute

Philippe Van Haute (†) was full professor at the Center for Contemporary European Philosophy, Radboud University Nijmegen, and extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria.

Jeanne Wolff Bernstein

Jeanne Wolff Bernstein is a psychoanalyst in Vienna and the chair of the Advisory Board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation.

Ulrike Kadi

Ilka Quindeau

Esther Hutfless