Woman As A Symbol In Chapter 2

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Again, like most boys his age, he thought understanding of women would happen in an instant:
Weakness and timidity and
inexperience would fall from
him in that magic moment (65).

This stems from the Irish Catholic culture that has surrounded him his whole life.
Also, sex before marriage was a sin- and anything that could lead to sex (a kiss) was to be avoided, as that too could lead to sin. Stephen has such low self-esteem at this point, he is scared of making any move towards any girl.
Another example of the use of woman is his being teased by Heron and his fellows before the play. Stephen's "governess" enters the playhouse, waiting to watch Stephen perform. Heron catches wind of that, and begins to tease him mercilessly, almost driving Stephen to tears. Women have been a constant, open wound with Stephen; and, like a wound that doesn't heal, the subject of 'women' causes him pain every time it comes up. Simply put, Dedalus is not a 'ladies' man', like ...

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