Why Are There No Women-Heroes? Philosophy, Myths, and Women

Summary of Event:

In “Why are there no women-heroes? Philosophy, Myths, and Women,” the author searches for female counterparts of the epic heroes found in representative myths from different cultures. Not finding any, she searches for the reason behind this lack of women-heroes in myths. The search brings her to the conclusion that heroes, because of the cycle of labors they have to go through, are essentially mole. It is the man who goes through the cycle of leaving the home, going on a quest, slaying the dragon and bringing home the dragon-head as his prize, and gaining wisdom in the process. Women, on the other hand, have been taught to stay at home, to care for the house, and to be silent-traits that are not conducive to questing activities required of the hero. Therefore, in myths, women tend to be nurturers, guides, and protectors of the questing hero, which shows that women, because of their experience, need not go on a quest to find the wisdom that becomes available to them because of the circumstances they are usually forced to bear with.