{"id":390,"date":"2021-01-09T14:13:54","date_gmt":"2021-01-09T21:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/?p=390"},"modified":"2021-07-09T18:09:28","modified_gmt":"2021-07-10T00:09:28","slug":"greek-mythology-and-me-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/greek-mythology-and-me-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems in Greek Mythology and the Me Too Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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You probably don\u2019t pair Greek Mythology and the Me Too movement, but in the last year, I can\u2019t help but connect the two every time I read certain myths.<\/span><\/p>

The <\/span>Me Too movement<\/span><\/a> exploded in the fall of 2017, launching a social media blitz that led to media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment and assault. It was something that definitely came up in my classroom, especially as we read current news articles for our \u201cArticle of the Week\u201d similar to <\/span>Kelly Gallagher\u2019s<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

But last year as I was teaching the myth of Medusa for the thousandth time \u2013 it struck me.\u00a0 If Medusa were alive today, she would have a #MeToo story.\u00a0 So would Pasiphae, Leto, Persephone, Helen, and Daphne (and many others). I was teaching myths that had the gods seducing, raping, and punishing women.<\/span><\/p>

In some instances, there isn\u2019t any mention of force, and many translations say that the gods, Zeus in particular, fell in \u201clove\u201d with goddesses and humans.\u00a0 But through this new lens, I wondered.<\/span><\/p>

So, I want to examine the Myth of Medusa through the lens of #MeToo.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Summary of the myth of Medusa<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In case you haven\u2019t read <\/span>my blog post about Medusa<\/span><\/a>, here is a quick recap.<\/span><\/p>

Medusa was a priestess in the temple of Athena.\u00a0 One day she went to the sea.\u00a0 Poseidon saw her, \u201cfell in love with her\u201d, and followed her back to the temple.\u00a0 There he approached Medusa, who refused him.\u00a0 So he took her on the floor of the temple.\u00a0 She prayed to Athena for help and she appeared.\u00a0 Angry.\u00a0 She punished Medusa for denying a god by turning her into the Gorgon.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Greek Gods (and assailants) can do anything<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Similar to the beliefs that many men in Hollywood, like Harvey Weinstein, in Greek Mythology the gods are allowed to do what they wish to humans.\u00a0 Humans were inconsequential.\u00a0 We see this clearly in the fact that Poseidon wants Medusa, therefore, Poseidon gets Medusa.\u00a0 She has no voice and no choice.<\/span><\/p>

But Medusa is strong \u2013 strong-willed and strong-voice. She runs from him.\u00a0 She calls upon Athena for help.\u00a0 She causes such a ruckus that her sisters (or fellow priestesses) come to her aide.<\/span><\/p>

Athena\u2019s response? \u201cHow dare you say no to a god \u2013 who do you think you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

This has never made sense to me.<\/span><\/p>

  1. Athena hates Poseidon<\/span><\/li>
  2. Athena was a virgin goddess and it was a requirement for her priestesses.<\/span><\/li>
  3. Her temple was desecrated by this act.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    Why doesn\u2019t she defend Medusa!?!?<\/span><\/p>

    The short answer is \u2013 Gods can do anything and humans can\u2019t say no.\u00a0 Athena hates it when humans see themselves as equal to or greater than the gods (remember what Athena did to Arachne?).\u00a0 By denying Poseidon her body, Medusa saw herself as deserving of respect and equal treatment by a god.<\/span><\/p>

    Mythology and the #MeToo movement connect in the sheer number of perpetrators that see themselves above the rules of society.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Victims are blamed<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    In the #MeToo movement we read story after story of women being subjected to unwanted sexual advances by men.\u00a0 Some were then labeled as frigid, prude, ice-queen, or tease.\u00a0 And unfortunately, I read many stories of women who, like Medusa, were raped and then blamed.<\/span><\/p>

    Athena isn\u2019t angry with Poseidon.\u00a0 She is angry with Medusa.\u00a0 She punishes Medusa.<\/span><\/p>

    Medusa was described as a beautiful maiden.\u00a0 So Athena turned her into a monster, with snakes in her hair, and a stare that would turn any mortal man into stone.\u00a0 She lives near the Underworld and becomes a trophy and prize for any mortal who wishes to hunt her down and kill her.<\/span><\/p>

    Can you see how the narrative around the myth of Medusa has changed from her being a victim to her being a monster, ultimately she is the one to blame, punish, and eventually kill.\u00a0 Why? Because she said, \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0 And then, after Perseus beheads Medusa, her head is given to Athena who carries it on the front of her shield for all to see.\u00a0 A terrifying sight indeed.\u00a0 But it also serves to send the message of \u201cdon\u2019t cross me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

    Even worse, is that in many modern interpretations of Medusa, she is turned into a sex-symbol.\u00a0 An object.\u00a0 Just do a google search of Medusa and you will find any number of drawings showing her in little clothing and a voluptuous body.\u00a0 She is depicted as luring heroes into her lair only to try to kill them \u2013 much like many perpetrators of sexual harassment using the excuse that \u201cShe deserved it\u201d or \u201cLook at what she was wearing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Women hurting women<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The other aspect that really bothers me about this Greek myth in the light of #MeToo is that Athena, a goddess, is the one who punishes Medusa beyond the initial rape.\u00a0 Women on women crime.<\/span><\/p>

    Many people try to explain away the myths or defend them because of the patriarchal society in which the Greeks lived.\u00a0 However, in this myth, it isn\u2019t just the patriarchy that harms Medusa.\u00a0 Athena doesn\u2019t defend Medusa.\u00a0 Athena turns Medusa into a monster.\u00a0 Athena helps Perseus kill her \u2013 even guiding his sword.\u00a0 Athena carries the head of Medusa on her shield.<\/span><\/p>

    This really could be a myth about Athena vs. Medusa.<\/span><\/p>

    How often do we (I\u2019m talking about women) do the same thing?\u00a0 We question victims of sexual assault.\u00a0 We stay silent when we see other women treated poorly.\u00a0 We call each other names.\u00a0 We see each other as competition and ultimately enemies.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    In the classroom<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    As I\u2019ve been struggling with all of this in the myths I\u2019ve been teaching \u2013 Medusa is just one of the myths, but the most obvious \u2013 my students have also been struggling with this.<\/span><\/p>

    I don\u2019t think we can impose our own morality systems on the myths.\u00a0 But I also think that we can\u2019t condone the actions of the gods.\u00a0 I think we condone them when we don\u2019t talk about it.\u00a0 When we ignore the problems in Greek Mythology and the Me Too Movement, we are silently accepting and approving of these actions.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Want to teach the Myth of Medusa \u2013 <\/span><\/i>check out this video guide.<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    You can find hundreds of blog posts that list all the ways we see mythology in modern life.\u00a0 But this is one way that I wish we would have progressed more in the last 4000 years.<\/span><\/p>

    The discussion in my classroom since #MeToo has been enlightening.\u00a0 And let me tell you \u2013 I have hope in the rising generation.\u00a0 More often than not, it was my male students who were the most uncomfortable and wanted justice for Medusa.\u00a0 They spoke up and used their voices to defend her.<\/span><\/p>

    It may have taken four millennia, but Medusa, we finally have your back!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClick here to get my Greek Gods Family Tree for FREE<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    You probably don\u2019t pair Greek Mythology and the #MeToo movement, but in the last year I can\u2019t help but connect the two every time I read certain myths.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,21],"tags":[31,23],"class_list":["post-390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mythology","category-greek-mythology","tag-greek-mythology","tag-mythology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=390"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1479,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390\/revisions\/1479"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}