The Fear of Women by Wolfgang Lederer, M.D.

First published in the mid-20th century, The Fear of Women is a controversial psychological and cultural study that examines male anxiety toward women across history, mythology, religion, and psychoanalytic theory. Wolfgang Lederer, a psychiatrist, explores how fear, idealization, desire, and repression have shaped male attitudes toward women and femininity over centuries.

Drawing on Jungian psychology, folklore, and cultural symbolism, the book analyzes archetypes of womanhood and the ways patriarchal societies have projected fear onto female sexuality and power. While dated in parts, the text remains a revealing artifact of its time and is frequently discussed in feminist, psychoanalytic, and cultural criticism contexts as an example of mid-century gender theory.

This edition features striking vintage cover art and is best approached as a historical document reflecting evolving ideas about gender, psychology, and power.