Mitologia e gênero: (re)pensando novas perspectivas sobre o antigo feminino na obra de René Ménard

Abstract

The research is based on an interest in analyzing gender issues and the presence of the feminine in Ancient Greece. Using René Ménard's work as a source, which describes the goddesses that make up the section of this work, we seek to understand, in parallel, the possible idealizations of these characters projected onto women from a respective group in ancient Greek society. Thus, the construction of a relationship between Greco-Roman mythology and gender emerges, with the aim of observing and analyzing the feminine in deities and mortals with real physical existence. Also considering beliefs of the period and archetypes, the methodology consists of applying the concepts of representations (based on Chartier's understanding) and gender (according to Joan Scott), to a distant time, antiquity. Despite the difficulties in obtaining an actively female voice in Greek literature and dealing with the scarcity of sources, the importance of a critical analysis for a better understanding of the subject is recognized. The research, despite its limitations, seeks to contribute to the understanding of gender representations and the social presence of the feminine in ancient Greece.