Thursday, August 7, 2014

Feminist or goddess – why must women choose?


A funny thing happened during the release party for Goddess, Awakened. At first, we were having fun, discussing mythological goddesses and favorite authors and books.

Then someone asked if my book promoted feminism. The question confused me at the time. Here was my answer:
“Not at all. The theme encourages women to empower themselves by accepting who they truly are and strengthening their unique talents. All things positive.”
Maybe I should explain why I began writing this series, The Goddess Connection, which will all be paranormals/fantasies based in mythology, all stand-alones, each based on a different goddess.

I love empowering women. Celebrating their uniqueness. Each of us have talents or skills we might view as quirks, and maybe we even dislike ourselves because of them. Or maybe we simply ignore them to fit into a more standardized life where we go through the motions but don’t really feel fulfilled.

In each of these books, the heroine will have lifelong quirks that she sees as detrimental, but by the end, she’ll learn that these quirks are actually strengths. They help define her as an individual, and that’s not a bad thing.

So it saddened me that, when I read the answers to one of the questions I posed at the party, “Do you think women should be treated like goddesses?” and some said no. Some argued women shouldn’t be put on a pedestal – and I agreed:
“that’s definitely not the message I want to send. As I mentioned above, the idea is *not* to put women on a pedestal or treat them as divas, but to value who they are in all their flaws, unique beauty, and talents. The theme of the Goddess Connection is for women to nurture that in themselves, too, and not let others devalue us. I hope that makes sense.”

I’m definitely confused too. Obviously, these young women have the wrong idea about feminism. Maybe they picture a militant society where females are barely distinguishable from males, some sci-fi interpretation that skews the real meaning. To me, feminism honors the struggle and hardships women endured to receive basic rights that should be afforded any human. To vote. To have an education. To choose for themselves how to live their lives. To better themselves in whatever way that appeals to them.

Lately, I’ve been seeing the term thrown around pretty freely, and it’s disturbing. Another article claimed the Starz series based on Diana Gabaldon’s work was the “feminist” answer to Game of Thrones. Why do journalists feel the need to pit one show against another? One gender against another? (Yes, I know – to boost ratings)

The HuffPost article put the question about a feminist label for my books in perspective, and if someone asks again, I’ll have to better qualify my answer.

Yes, to be a goddess means to embrace your best self. The only way to do that is by freeing yourself from restraints, either from outside or originating in yourself.

In my mind, the same definition applies to feminism.

And if you’re interested in The Goddess Connection, the first book is now available from Kensington Publishing’s Lyrical Press imprint.


Goddess, Awakened
The Goddess Connection, Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance novel
About 89,700 words
 

6 comments:

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Wow, I would be terrified if I had a question like that put to me. It's such a touchy subject to many people. I think the term means different things to different people.

Cate Masters said...

Yes, I can only speak to my intent while writing the story, but it does bother me that young people are perverting the idea of feminism into something that they should rebel against. That's downright scary.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

The pendulum and swung too far and women want to be men. I like how our society is empowering women, but I believe it's ridiculous how it is killing the woman out of being, well, a woman.

♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

Elizabeth Mueller said...

D'oh! Don't you just love my grammar?

*The pendulum has swung too far ...

:P

Unknown said...

No, dear, you aint a goddess;
you're a mortal sinner N you
need desparately to go to confession.
lucifer, the Loser, has influenced
your mind to think so - if you do N
you croak, will Jesus B under you, dear?
No, dear, YOU'll BE ACCUSED OF IDOLATRY.
Worthy of Hellfire.
Do you want THAT to happen???
I certainly dont.
I love you.
And I wanna see you enjoy
the eternity Upstairs forever.

Yeah [yawn] I'm a total pariah...
yet, I'm going to Seventh-Heaven.
Where you going?
If 1-outta-1 bites-the-dust
and if you dont yet know,
lemme show you how to wiseabove...

DATS D'FAK, Jak:

When our soul leaves our body
and we riseabove to meet our Maker,
only four, last things remain:
death, judgement, Heaven or Hell.
(which is exactly what happened to me:
Im an NDE - my colorFULL nomenclature).

Find-out what RCIA is and join
(ya might wanna check-out
'Lui et Moi' by Gabrielle Bossis -
a French writer, translated;
a wonderfull novel which'll
ROCK, YOUR, WORLD, earthling).

Make Your Choice -SAW
Google+: kold_kadavr_ flatliner

Unknown said...

No, dear, you aint a goddess;
you're a mortal sinner N you
need desparately to go to confession.
lucifer, the Loser, has influenced
your mind to think so - if you do N
you croak, will Jesus B under you, dear?
No, dear, YOU'll BE ACCUSED OF IDOLATRY.
Worthy of Hellfire.
Do you want THAT to happen???
I certainly dont.
I love you.
And I wanna see you enjoy
the eternity Upstairs forever.

Yeah [yawn] I'm a total pariah...
yet, I'm going to Seventh-Heaven.
Where you going?
If 1-outta-1 bites-the-dust
and if you dont yet know,
lemme show you how to wiseabove...

DATS D'FAK, Jak:

When our soul leaves our body
and we riseabove to meet our Maker,
only four, last things remain:
death, judgement, Heaven or Hell.
(which is exactly what happened to me:
Im an NDE - my colorFULL nomenclature).

Find-out what RCIA is and join
(ya might wanna check-out
'Lui et Moi' by Gabrielle Bossis -
a French writer, translated;
a wonderfull novel which'll
ROCK, YOUR, WORLD, earthling).

Make Your Choice -SAW
Google+: kold_kadavr_ flatliner