This is also a generation of women un-covering, dis-covering and re-covering their lost-feminine-idealized-selves. This generation, the previous generation, and the future generations are composed of women straining and striving to re-integrate strong feminie aspects within a solid, cohesive feminine self &emdash; striving to mother themselves in ways that allow growth and transformation spiritually, intellectually and psychologically. This is a generation of women stepping out of psychological captivity.

Who or what has created these new feminine-ego-ideals? Feminist ideologies (Bernay & Cantor, 1986), the feminist movement, and the emphasis on women's studies and psychology have set the stagge to explore feminine identity in innovative ways. In the article, "Reconciling Nurturance and Aggression: A New Feminine Identity,"¹ Bernay addresses how women have begun to move away from the old feminine identity which emphasized passivity and dependence, to a new identity that seeks to incorporate an assertive-aggressive- independent stance. The challenge for women is to be at a solid enough place to balance the positive aspects of vitality, intellectuality and sexuality with the old archaic aspects of competency-loss, helplessness and hopelessness. It is the quintessential paradox for women that, at the moment they experience the vitality of newly differentiated feminine aspects of the self, they simultaneously experience inhibition and fear due to the identification with archaic disparaging aspects. This arduous process of re-integration of positive feminine aspects is the central theme to be discussed in conjunction with the role of eating disorders.

In Kolbenschlag's "Lost in the Land of Oz,"² the feminine archetype of Dorothy finds that the yellow brick road is fraught with psychological conflicts she has to face if she is to integrate positive feminine aspects. Addressing her psychological journey provides an insightful way to discuss the attempt by women to reintegrate the lost idealized feminine self. Through the Dorothy archetype, we learn that disordered eating is a veil covering the deeper conflict of finding one's feminine identity and, in essence, the healing of the internal mother-daughter aspect.

I present the following clinical case analysis, the dilemma faced by a particular female patient with eating disorders, in order to illustrate the central conflict faced by patients, i.e., the loss of positive feminine aspects.

Joan, a 39-year-old, began to realize how the over-involvement with male relationships was a displacement or substitute for the unmet needs in her early childhood. These unmet needs shared in the therapeutic setting consisted primarily of the absence of authentic, empathic dialogue with the mother. The patient described her relationship with the mother in this way: "I felt my relationship with my mother to be devoid of any in-depth, sustained interest in those endeavors I pursued that were most important to me. It is not that my mother did not love me. But she loved me her way &emdash; with her perceptions &emdash; which had nothing to do with me whatsoever." In addition, Joan went on to say that she never had the feeling of "idealizing" any of her mother's feminine traits &emdash; to the contrary, she resented anything linked to her mother's feminine self. In one of her sessions, the patient explained it this way: "I cannot imagine ever 'idealizing' my mother; I wasn't trying to find flaws or judge her, but I never felt I could look to her for any insightful feedback about my identity issues. I had to figure out everything on my own."

It is not by accident that Dorothy's journey takes her to the Emerald City &emdash; the open door to infinite opportunities. The Emerald City is a metaphor for the patriarchal stronghold, the center of androcentrism/logocentrism or the repository of masculine rules and how to exist in the patriarchal world. The Emerald City is the ultimate metaphor for the lost idealized self. It is the embodiment of male authority, which Dorothy is subconsciously striving toward in her quest to know her Self.

In working with female patients struggling with compulsive overeating, one is struck by the lack of internal mothering aspects available to shore up the self. One patient, in particular, once asked a very poignant question: "How can I begin to find my identity if all I have had is a mother who has no identity?"

What does this say about the struggle women face in recreating new feminine identities when the positive maternal archetypes are not developed enough for the daughter to idealize? What does this say about the reality that women may turn to the masculine archetypal element in society when their internal feminine worlds are so repressed/suppressed?³ The obsession with mothering food is the covering that hides this major conflict women face today &emdash; the loss of feminine maternal elements.

In order to become more nearly whole in their feminine identity, women, like the Dorothy archetype in The Wizard of Oz, must reintegrate three major psychological feminine aspects: the spiritual self, the psychological self and the knowing, intellectual self. These are represented in The Wizard of Oz by the Tin Man (the spiritual self), the Lion (the psychological self) and the Scarecrow (the intellectual self).

In this interpretation of The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man masculine element does not evolve into the spiritual aspect until women work through their own self-hatred and masochistic tendencies. Likewise, the Lion masculine aspect does not evolve until women take responsibility for their own growth and development instead of projecting their unconscious aspects onto others. And the Scarecrow masculine aspect does not evolve until women become psychological selves who discipline themselves to be responsible for developing their own minds, their own ways of knowing.4

The following case analysis is an example of a patient, Michele, who is at a more advanced stage than Joan in her therapeutic journey. Realizing that she has never had the opportunity in her early development to integrate positive feminine aspects from her mother &emdash; she nonetheless acknowledges the possibility that the therapist may act as the "potential idealized-feminine-ego structure" from which she may learn a new feminine structure grounded in strong, feminine competencies.

As women move forward to form new feminine ideals, they will be able to demythologize more and more of the masculine principle in society. With the emergence of women's psychology and the reinterpretation of women's ways of being in the world, women will have the opportunity to avail themselves of new definitions. The research in the area of feminine redefinition has been fertile ground for the resurgence of women's spirituality and new perceptions of the role of the goddess.

The journey along the yellow brick road involves continuous dismantling and reconstructing as women seek to let go of archaic definitions of identity. One of the most vital questions confronting the woman of the 21st century and beyond will be this: Will we be able to reconstruct within the masculine, symbolic order5 a feminine symbolic order whereby men and women can respect the two unique symbolic worlds?

Virginia B. Davies is a specialist in women's psychology who embraces a feminist psychoanalytic approach to dealing with eating disorders in women and men. She has been a faculty member at the Eating Disorder Institute at Saddleback College and is currently a speaker in the area of women's psychology and eating disorders. She may be contacted by e-mail at vdavies@earthlink.net or call 626/797-7302.

References
1. Bernay, T., Cantor, D.W. (Eds.). The Psychology of Today Woman. New Psychoanalytic Visions. New Jersey: The Analytic Press, (1986). 2. Kolbenschlag, M., Lost in the Land of Oz. The Search for Identity and Community in America. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, (1988 ). 3. Chernin, K., The Hungry Self. Women, Eating & Identity. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, (1985). 4. Jordan, J.V., Kaplan, A.G., Miller, J.B., Stiver, I.P., Surrey, J.L., Women's Growth in Connection. Writings from the Stone Center. New York: The Guilford Press, (1991). 5. Duchen, C., Feminism in France. From May '68 to Mitterand. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Plc., (1986).