Myths as Patriarchal Tools

As ancient narratives, myths have been crucial in forming the cultural, social, and moral frameworks of societies all over the world. Full of gods, heroes, and natural forces that define right and wrong, sacred and profane, myths have historically been used as powerful tools for patriarchal control. From the ancient Greeks to indigenous societies, myths have not only portrayed women in limiting and subjugated roles but have also actively served to instruct, discipline, and silence them.

Myths have served as conceptual frameworks for comprehending the universe throughout history, but they have also frequently served to uphold masculine domination. In its most basic definition, patriarchy is a system in which men are mostly in charge, particularly when it comes to positions of social privilege, moral authority, and political leadership. Mythologies have frequently placed women in ways that uphold patriarchal hierarchies because they are deeply rooted in the ideology of the societies from which they originated. These misconceptions are frequently used to control women's conduct, defend their oppression, and stifle any opposition to the patriarchal system.

From the ancient Greeks to indigenous societies, myths have not only portrayed women in limiting and subjugated roles but have also actively served to instruct, discipline, and silence them.

One of the earliest instances of women being portrayed as the carriers of chaos and difficulty in Greek mythology is probably the goddess Pandora, the first woman made by the gods. The myth states that Pandora received a box, often known as a jar, and was instructed not to open it. All of the world's horrors were freed when she did, leaving just hope. This tale is frequently interpreted as a symbolic illustration of the notion that women are inevitably associated with disorder and misery, and that humanity would ultimately perish as a result of their curiosity and disobedience.

Similar to this, Eve is presented in the Abrahamic traditions' stories as the first woman to introduce sin into the world as a result of her curiosity and disobedience. The narrative of Genesis highlights that Eve's decision to eat the forbidden fruit was a deliberate act of disobedience with far-reaching repercussions, rather than merely an act of curiosity. Here, the myth frames women as naturally imperfect and prone to temptation in order to teach them about the perils of curiosity and disobedience. This story has had a significant impact on religious and societal standards that hold women accountable for human misery.

Eve is presented in the Abrahamic traditions' stories as the first woman to introduce sin into the world as a result of her curiosity and disobedience.

The patriarchal message that women must be subdued, hushed, and disciplined in order to prevent societal disorder is reinforced by the portrayal of women as the causes of chaos and disobedience in these two instances. The underlying message is unmistakable: society will suffer if women don't conform to expected roles and behaviors.

Myths have been used to control women's bodies and sexuality in addition to their acts and behaviors. Women's sexual liberty is punished in many mythologies, which perpetuates patriarchal notions of women's roles as submissive, chaste, and passive.

Consider the Greek myth of Medusa, for instance. After Medusa, a once-beautiful maiden, was raped by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, Athena punished her by turning her into a snake-haired monster whose eyes could turn men to stone. In addition to depicting Medusa as a victim of sexual assault, the story also holds her accountable for the attack. The change into a monster represents the widespread social perception that a woman's body is holy and that any infringement on it results in her moral degradation. The tale teaches women to be mute and docile in order to avoid more punishment, and instead blames Medusa for her mistreatment rather than the rapist.

Myths about virginity and chastity were developed in many cultures to uphold patriarchal authority over women's bodies. For instance, Diana, the goddess of virginity in Roman mythology, was simultaneously the huntress and the protector of women. It is possible to interpret the tale of Diana's insistence on virginity as supporting the idea that women's bodies belonged to their fathers, and then to their spouses. It reaffirmed the patriarchal necessity to regulate women's sexuality and underlined the value of a woman's sexual purity. These kinds of myths made it very evident to women that their sexual behavior was a determining factor in their value and moral status.

Medusa's story holds her responsible for her mistreatment and teaches women to preserve their bodies to avoid more punishment for their victimhood.

Making women silent is another important way that myths have been exploited to silence them. In many stories, women are portrayed as helpless victims of male gods or heroes who have little control over their own destiny. These women are frequently depicted in the narrative as silent victims who are punished for their alleged wrongdoings and then silenced.

The tale of the Greek goddess Persephone is one well-known example. Hades kidnaps Persephone and transports her to the underworld, where she becomes his queen. The myth hardly ever shows Persephone as having a say in her destiny, despite the fact that her journey is one of trauma, metamorphosis, and eventual return to her mother, Demeter. Although her return from the underworld represents the rebirth of life, Persephone is rarely shown as actively influencing the course of her own life, and her kidnapping is not her decision. Rather, woman is a passive character who is manipulated by male deities and outside forces.

Similarly, the Virgin Mary is frequently portrayed in Christian mythology as a quiet conduit for the manifestation of divine will. Mary largely serves as a conduit for Jesus' birth in the Nativity myth, and she has very little voice. The conventional narrative highlights Mary's passivity and obedience to God's will, while contemporary interpretations of her story have reframed it as one of empowerment. For many years, this passive representation has served as a template for how women ought to act: submissive, quiet, and self-effacing.

Mary's conventional narrative highlights Mary's passivity and obedience to God's will.

Women themselves have discovered ways to reinterpret and disrupt myths, despite the fact that they have historically been used to silence and discipline women. Classical myths have been reinterpreted by feminist researchers, authors, and activists in recent years to question their patriarchal overtones and give voice to female characters who were previously marginalized or silenced.

For instance, Medusa has been recovered as a representation of feminine strength and wrath in contemporary mythological retellings. Barbara Walker reimagines Medusa as a victim of Poseidon's rape in The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, turning her from a monster into a representation of women’s strength and independence. In a similar vein, Madeline Miller's Circe and Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls feminist retellings of Greek myths provide new insights on the women who were marginalized or silenced in the classic versions of the tales.

Women may confront the systems that have historically attempted to restrict, mute, and disempower them by reclaiming these myths and using them as means of resistance. These contemporary reimaginings have the potential to provide fresh interpretations and meanings that upend the patriarchal themes that have long pervaded conventional mythology and empower women.

About the Author

I am Sanchari Mukherjee, a student doing a Master's in English from the reputed Presidency University, Calcutta. I love writing and appreciate art in all forms. Being a literature major, I have learned to critically comment on situations and contexts of various kinds. I take a lot of interest in current affairs and like to cover those topics in the articles I write. Glad that you came across my blog, I hope you found it informative!