Description
The book Women, Stereotypes and Archetypes, by Manisha Roy, explores the complexity of modern woman’s identity which is no longer supported by convenient but limiting stereotypes. The book tries to answer following questions :
How do the women handle the confusion arising from such a loss?
If stereotypes are rejected can understanding of the meaning and function of the archetypes in human psyche offer the majority of women guidelines to a secure identity?
Is an American woman’s problem of identity different from that of a woman of another culture?
And finally, where does all this change and crisis lead? Examples from the author’s analytical practice of 40 years and life-long anthropological research and teaching are used to support her observations and conclusions.
Table of Contents
Foreword 1
Introduction 3
Archetypes 8
The Cultural Component 15
Stereotypes 17
PART ONE Chapter One: Cultural Archetypes 23
Introduction 23
Western Experience: Setting the Stage 24
Struggle Between the Sexes 49
The Goddess Disappears — The Historical Background 49
The Goddess is Replaced — The Psychological Parallel 52
Femininity Devalued — The Splitting of the Archetype 54
The New Consciousness — A Double-Faced Janus? 58
Separation from the Mother — A New Independence: Identification with the Animus 61
Revenge of the Mother: Emotional Suffering Begins 63
The Dynamics of Marriage 64
Husband’s Role 65
Divorce and Women 66
Women’s Movement 69
Surrender to Suffering: New Identity? New Consciousness? 73
Chapter Two: Indian Experience 77
Another Version of the Balance Between the Sexes 77
Mythology: The Goddess and the Gods 77
Indian Women Today: Interplay of Life and Archetypes 84
Sanskaar and Shakti 87
Compartmentalization 91
Prolonged Projections 93
Conclusion 94
PART TWO
Chapter Three: Individuals and Archetypes 99
Introduction 99
Identification, Projection and Integration 100
Childhood and Adolescence 104
Joyce 104
Sexuality – Awakening 113
Adolescence and Mental Health 117
Formal Education 119
Chapter Four: Adult Life 125
Many Choices, More Confusions 125
Archetypes Live Through Changing Roles 128
Love and Marriage 130
Elizabeth’s Marriage 134
Betrayal in Marriage 139
Motherhood: Wanda 142
Other Alternatives 147
An Example of a Balanced Life 152
Addendum (written ten years later, in 1982) 156
Brief Comments 156
Chapter Five: Aging Years and Death 159
New Longevity, New Challenge 162
Psychological Implications: Letting Go and Developing Impersonal Interests 163
Animus as Spiritual Guide to Death and Beyond 167
Chapter Six: Concluding Remarks 171
A Schematic Theme of the Interplay of the Ego and the Archetypes in a Woman’s Life 175
Additional References 181
Descriptions of Terms and Concepts as They Are Used in This Book 185
About the Author 191
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.