Helen wrote:
Many people who feel technology without philosphy is
ruining the planet like to embrace goddess-worship as part of their world view, which suggests even most rebels against society are buying into the technical/man-- emotional/woman dichotomy of the mainstream culture. (This ties in with the thread about how even rebelling from the culture, we a shaped by it).
I don't agree. I don't think there's anything sexist, or culturally prejudiced, in seeing Earth as feminine. Ask Ellynne or Fiona and I think they will agree that numerous mythologies throughout the world which haven't had any interaction with each other view the Earth as such. Earth is mother. It gives birth to things. There's no way you can see it as masculine (or at least none that I'm aware of). This is not a matter of ideology. It is an archetype, an ancient human notion, deeply ingrained within our psyche. Earth and water are feminine elements, both for the Chinese and the Celts.
Yes, I'm interested in the goddess thing. If nothing else, it provides a very original critical stance for analysing literature. Some of the best writers of today, both male and female, promote the feminine principle - Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize, Ted Hughes, English Poet Laureate, Coetzee, two Booker prizes, D.M. Thomas, Margaret Atwood. Or, if you want to stay within the SF/F genre, try Mists of Avalon. It is a bit longish and some parts are boring, but it's worth reading for its world-view.
On the other hand, I feel that very often feminists are missing the point, fighting for women's right to fill the positions which were previously filled by men, within the structures which still remain essentially governed by the masculine principle. I don't see that world has become a better place because some female monsters have been asigned to the position of Prime Ministers of Foreign Secretaries of influential countries. Psychologically they are the offspring of Athens, who was conceived in her father's head. The real issue should be the equality of principles, masculine and feminine.
N. (who admits she is very heated about this)