Athena to Barbie: Bodies, Archetypes, and Women's Search for Self

by J. Lenore Wright

Athena to Barbie explores the vexed nature of being a woman. It maps the four corners of impossible choice a female faces because of the female body--her body as spiritual space (Mary), as political space (Athena), as erotic space (Venus), and as materialist space (Barbie). The book tracks the difficulty women face in understanding themselves as someone who has, but is not only, a body. The question of identity is particularly fraught and complicated when it comes to women--because the ability to bear children is a double-edged sword. Across time (including right now), having a womb has shaped how women are viewed and treated in negative ways, and women's childbearing abilities have been used to stereotype, oppress, and constrain them. Pregnancy is powerful, but the possibility of pregnancy comes with impossible pressures and choices. This book takes on the task of reconciliation--how women can understand themselves in light of their bodies--through an intense dive into history, art, literature, theology, and, particularly, philosophy.

Genres: Feminism

204 pages, Hardcover

Published November 2, 2021

Reviews

[擰發條鳥 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Womb, fertility and body image

[Stephen Pluhacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wright’s Athena to Barbie invites the reader to consider four crucial archetypes (Mary, Athena, Venus and Barbie) and work through them. These four archetypes respectively may be mapped on to religious, political, amorous and material registers. Moreover, all of the archetypes may be read in each of these registers. In engaging with these archetypes, the book “demonstrates four ways that women have sought to solve their vexed, bodily nature” (p.124). The book presents a new way to draw upon neglected pasts. It asks us to do work upon the self. No matter the reader’s own gender identity or expression, we live in a world shaped by archetypes of femininity. In this way, the book speaks to all readers.

It is rare to encounter a book that is both scholarly and approachable; Athena to Barbie is such a book. Its style is lucid and engaging. The physical book is well produced, with notably high-quality page layouts and color illustrations. Given the state of publishing today, these attributes are rare and much appreciated.

Athena to Barbie provides provocative food for thought and guides readers from the negative moment of women’s historic oppression toward the positive potential of a better future. Wright does not claim to offer a definitive account of the archetypes (if doing so were possible, they wouldn’t deserve to be called archetypes). Rather, her study is an invitation to share in generative thinking. As she writes: “Each archetype […] is wanting. There are no permanent or fixed pathways to female agency and identity. But—and here is the good feminist news—there is a promise, a hope, a heuristic move embedded in these icons” (p. 134).

[Shea Berthelot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most thought-provoking and interesting book I have read this year. Dr.Lenore Wright wrote a fantastic piece and it will be a recommendation to all of the women in my life. Thinking critically about the historical change in the roles women have been expected to play throughout society is incredibly interesting and I can't wait to read more of her future work. Her students must be very lucky to have her as a professor.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thoughtful and interesting work of feminist literature challenged me to understand “woman as womb” and explored several archetypes of women through history. However - I did not give it 5 stars because it all exists within the framework of the male gaze and patriarchy, as if there is no way women can escape. Though it is true that the patriarchy strangles women, I think that this disentanglement from men could be explored a little deeper…

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

And it certainly looks like the women's search is more of a male's search for what the women should desire. I am sure some nice males will grant Wright the appreciation she desires, so she won't have to hold a honest job for the rest of her life.

[Faith Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Peculiar points were made, mostly built upon the flawed belief of women’s identity as view of self. Getting through the section on Mary was difficult because of the repetitive use of misconceptions of biblical womanhood as evidence. I did appreciate the art pieces included in the book.

[Gia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very academic and sometimes repetitive, but makes some really interesting points.