Start Date
4-30-2026 9:10 AM
End Date
4-30-2026 10:25 AM
Disciplines
History
Abstract
Cross-culturally, women in folklore have been portrayed as dangerous due to their sexuality and influence over men. Clear patterns throughout history emerge through analysis of the following occurrences, which show a link between how sexualized a female figure is and the threat she is considered to pose. The she-demon Lilith in Jewish and Mesopotamian mythology as well as folklore relating to the Scriptures, mermaids in Europe, and fox spirits in East Asia all demonstrate this phenomenon, since they are all overly sexualized and represent broader social norms towards women. These beings all exhibit similarities in being able to exert control over men in some form, and require some type of life-sustaining sustenance from men in order to survive, such as mermaids and fox spirits hunting down male souls and Lilith’s and fox spirits’ use of semen. Looking at women’s role in folklore, particularly dangerous women, gives historians an idea of how women were seen in society at that time, and cultural values relating to women's sexuality.
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Included in
Demonizing Sexuality: Dangerous Women in Folklore
Cross-culturally, women in folklore have been portrayed as dangerous due to their sexuality and influence over men. Clear patterns throughout history emerge through analysis of the following occurrences, which show a link between how sexualized a female figure is and the threat she is considered to pose. The she-demon Lilith in Jewish and Mesopotamian mythology as well as folklore relating to the Scriptures, mermaids in Europe, and fox spirits in East Asia all demonstrate this phenomenon, since they are all overly sexualized and represent broader social norms towards women. These beings all exhibit similarities in being able to exert control over men in some form, and require some type of life-sustaining sustenance from men in order to survive, such as mermaids and fox spirits hunting down male souls and Lilith’s and fox spirits’ use of semen. Looking at women’s role in folklore, particularly dangerous women, gives historians an idea of how women were seen in society at that time, and cultural values relating to women's sexuality.