Question

Did Horney agree with Freud's contention that anatomy is destiny? Explain.

Answer 1

Horney did not agree with Freud's contention that anatomy is destiny, that is, the idea that one's biological characteristics (such as one's gender) are the primary determinants of one's traits. Her primary opposition to Freud was the idea of 'penis envy' and she instead argued that it was males who envied the female anatomy and not what Freud proposed. She further articulated that if a female did feel inferior to a male, it was due to societal and cultural influences that favour the atter.