Blaming Beauty for the Beast: A Jungian Explanation for the Persistence of Patriarchal Patterns

Abstract

Rape was a prominent theme in Greek mythology and has recently re-emerged in the media spotlight due to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements as well as celebrity-involved cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment (i.e., Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein). The current paper examines three ancient Greek myths involving rapes committed by gods. A qualitative content analysis was done to compare these myths to modern day sexual assaults. Latent content results were analyzed and framed within the context of Jungian theory. Prior research has placed rape and other sexual assaults within a patriarchal framework, presuming strategic male hegemony. Archetype theory offers an alternative, and more benign, explanation for the prevalence of rape myths, the persistence of gender power differentials, and for the perpetuation of ancient stereotypes. Analysis of study findings within a Jungian framework suggests a possible solution for these persistent problems within society, one worthy of empirical investigation.