Examination of the Sexuality of Anna Freud

This research examines the life of Anna Freud with a view toward assessing the sexuality of Sigmund Freud's youngest child. Interest in the question of Anna Freud's sexuality derives from descriptions of the woman as being distant and sexually repressed (Heller, 1992, pp. 48-74), the fact that she never married or developed a physically intimate relationship with a man (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 63), and her long and close relationship with Dorothy Burlingham, of which Anna Freud herself was concerned that could be misconstrued as being homosexual in character (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 196).

The focus of this examination of the sexuality of Anna Freud is on the development of a line of thinking that will indicate that she was homosexually inclined, asexual, or ascetic. To remove any element of mystery from this examination, it should be noted that, in so far as any living person knows, Anna Freud throughout her life had no physical sexual relationship with any other person--male or female, remaining virginal (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 137). Thus, the goal of this examination is not to establish that Anna Freud did or did not have a physical sexual relationship with another person, or if she did have such a relationship to establish the character of that relationship. Rather, as it is generally accepted that Anna Freud never throughout her life had a physical sexual relationship with another perso

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Relationship With Dorothy Burlingham Anna Freud's long relationship with Dorothy Burlingham gave rise to speculation than Anna might be homosexual (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 196). Anna Freud's own attitude toward homosexuality, however, argues against such a presumption. Sigmund Freud viewed homosexuality as a variation from normal sexual development, and did not consider homosexuality to be an illness (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 327). Anna Freud, however, for most of her life viewed homosexuality as a condition that should be cured (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 327). From such a perspective and considering her character, one would expect that Anna Freud would have attempted to cure herself had she entertained any notion that she was homosexual. Anna Freud met Dorothy Burlingham as a patient (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 135). Dorothy Burlingham and her children became special wards of Anna Freud. Anna Freud acknowledged a conflict with respect to Dorothy Burlingham and her children between her role as an analyst and "her wanting-to-have-something" (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 135). Eventually, Dorothy Burlingham and her children became Anna Freud's "family" (Young-Bruehl, 1988, p. 136). The Burlinghams at first lived in an apartment in the same
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Approximate Word count = 6399
Approximate Pages = 26 (250 words per page)