Women of Power in Myth & Folklore

This course will explore a variety of myths from around the world to facilitate a better understanding of the roles powerful women play in these ancient stories. Encounter goddesses, witches, and disenfranchised daughters as we will explore how women of power are portrayed in myth, what this says about gender roles and expectations in the cultures from which the stories evolved, and how our inheritance of these ancient stories has shaped our own culture. Finally, we will take a brief glimpse at contemporary feminist re-tellings of ancient myths that seek to give center stage to once-peripheral female voices.