Group-Analytic Contexts, Issue 81, September 2018

Newsletter – Autumn 2018 17
especially about the intimacy involved. In practice that was one of the
most gratifying aspects.
The personal is political - we talked about our adolescent
selves and experiences as young women, with contraception and fear
of pregnancy. There were many powerful and moving stories. For
me, some of the hurt is still there and it seemed that was the case for
some others as well.
Along with that and seeing ourselves now so different, but
not, from those younger selves, we described more recent hurts -
illnesses - our own and of loved ones - and encroaching frailties.
I enjoyed identifying with others around experiences within
our families of origin. Awareness of difference was always there as
well, for me anyway.
The paper sparked some interesting thoughts. E.g. how the
Oedipus complex is experienced in large family groups.
Jean Byrne, Jacqueline Fogden, Joan Fogel, Merryn
Jones, Di King, Kathy Smith, Philippa Marx