Shifting Power, Shattered Intimacy: A Psychoanalytic and Feminist Reading of Psychosexual Conflict in Fair Play

The study examines the impact of shifting workplace hierarchies on psychosexual health. The research is conducted through a case study of the film Fair Play. The study adopts a qualitative case study methodology and collects data through a systematic analysis of scenes and dialogues in the selected film. The article integrates feminist and psychoanalytic theory to develop a clear interdisciplinary framework for analysis. In the study, Lacan’s concept of symbolism is used to highlight the governed desires of the male protagonist and Freud’s concepts of ego and defence mechanism are used to highlight how symbolism leads a man towards ego and defence, which further affect their relations. The feminist framework of the study is shaped by Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity and Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze. The study analyses how male identity becomes vulnerable when challenged by women’s career advancement. It depicts how a woman’s professional progress can provoke male jealousy and emotional insecurity, which destabilises the psychosexual health of couples at the workplace. The article explores how women’s career progress is often sexualised and undermined in a male-dominated society. The findings of the study suggest that the psychosexual tensions in the movie are not merely personal conflicts but the outcome of wider social conditions. The article also highlights deep-rooted gender norms and workplace power relations. It also underscores the role of cinema in addressing psychosexual health issues in the workplace.