Gender Development and Transgender Expressions through Loewald’s Eyes

Relational theorists have long recognized Hans Loewald as an important ancestor whose insights continue to yield value to current psychoanalytic issues. This paper locates Loewald in the historical context of psychoanalysis with particular attention to the Relational school and goes further in finding his predictive theorizing in the context of gender studies and gender transition. In detail, I discuss two core theoretical Loewaldian insights—ego and temporality—and apply them to both gender and sexuality, using clinical vignettes to highlight their value in practice.