59

Female frigidity is like male impotence but more « clamorous ». Freud’s laconic statement to this effect demonstrates some of the perplexity caused by this disorder in both theory and practice. It is simultaneously obvious andenigmatic. In fact, the question of frigidity never arises without causing some fuss, without bringing to light some questions – such as passivity – that were previously eclipsed. The author suggests determining this capacity of female frigidity to raise questions, as revealed in the history of sexuality and psychoanalytic theory, just as in psychoanalytic treatment.