On the Natal Body and Its Confusing Place in Mental Life

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalytic theory
• Gender studies
• Body politics

Background:

• Ongoing theoretical confusions exist regarding the integration of the natal body, sex, gender, and procreation.
• The relationship between the material body, the
• and gender is historically shifting and complex.
• Current theories of gender identity often detach body parts from natal referents, ignoring the procreative body.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the theoretical confusions surrounding the gestalt of the natal body, sex, gender, and procreation.
• To highlight the historical shifts in understanding the relations among the material body, the psychoanalytic body, sex, and gender.
• To advocate for further data collection and study to advance the field, avoiding premature theoretical conclusions.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of theoretical frameworks in psychoanalysis and gender studies.
• Examination of clinical cases and historical artistic representations.
• Application of Julia Kristeva's concept of the "abject" to understand suppressive elements in the field.

Main Results:

• The terms "masculine" and "feminine" are often prematurely applied to biological attributes of a sexed body.
• The procreative potential of the female body is frequently ignored or erased in gender theorizing.
• Julia Kristeva's concept of the "abject" offers insight into the field's silence regarding the body's procreative potential.

Conclusions:

• Addressing confusions in the understanding of the natal body, sex, gender, and procreation is crucial for academic advancement.
• The procreative aspect of the body, particularly the female body, requires greater attention in theoretical and clinical contexts.
• A more holistic approach, acknowledging the interplay of sex, gender, and procreation, is necessary for a comprehensive understanding.