> I was going to avoid this, because it seems too GD, but...
>
> In my opinion it is important to understand that Ernaldan mythology
> is positive about women's non-martial role.
Sure. But the Nazis waxed lyrical about the heroism of women breeding the new Aryan nation. It is quite easy to cloak oppression like the this, frex. the notorious "celebration" of female beauty which are swimsuit pageants.
The fact that a female role is lauded is less important than the fact that there is a female role. Often, the social approval associated with such a role is the MEANS by which women are coerced; you are a Good Girl if you follow Ernaldas advice and hence your destined social role, and a Bad Girl if you reject kind an motherly Ernalda and arrogantly strike off on your own. I am exagerating for effect, but I hope this illustrates that the FACT of oppreesion is distinct from the ideology which justifies that oppression.
> Of interest to us is that many of these writers have turned to an
> examination of myth to identify and reclaim powerful roles for women
> from myth and religion. For there we tend to find a celebration of
> the mythic side of female sexuality.
True, although personally I fell this is a methodological error, as I'm a
pretty staunch materialist.
Appealing to mythical ideals does not seem a wise way to construct an
analysis, IMO.
> Mythology is complex and does reflects social and psychological
> struggles for role and identity.
Indeed.
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