World of Opportunities: Heroes and Heroines

Why are there fewer stories about mythical heroines than about heroes?

Is it harder to find stories about women than men in mythology?

Most ancient societies were patriarchal (male-dominated) and the men were story-tellers and leaders. However, in legends there are many more women and also in folktales. In mythology, the female characters are often goddesses.

Find an example of a female hero in a traditional tale from the books in the library (or you may know one already from memory) and discuss. Be prepared to cover the following points:

• Her name
• Her role in the story
• The broad outline of the myth or legend for those who may not have read it before
• What is the message of this particular myth or legend