The genital stage
is the term used by Sigmund Freud
to describe the final stage of human psychosexual development
. According to Freud's theories, this stage begins at puberty and constitutes mature adult sexuality.
Female sexuality and criticism of Freud's theories
Freud believed that at this stage, female sexuality
shifted from being clitoris
-centric to being vagina
-centric. There is considerable criticism of this theory, as it portrays adult women who continue to enjoy and orgasm
from clitoral stimulation as not having reached full sexual maturity.