What Role Do Women Play In Creation Stories

The Role of Women in Creation Stories Men tend to be the dominant figure in many modern societies; this could have something to do with the role women play in creation stories believed by a particular society. In some of the creation stories studied, women are portrayed as inferior to men even though they possess great strengths or the ability to manipulate men. The creation stories of Genesis, Enuma Elish, and The Creation of Pandora from Works and Days all have feminine characters that are portrayed as inferior to men even though they possess great strengths or the ability to manipulate men. In the Genesis creation story, it is easy enough to establish the theme of women having been created after man and therefore of lesser importance. One of the first hints given to support the theme is that God is a male figure comes right in the beginning of the story. “3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and
In this story woman did not even exist until the creation of Pandora. That in itself is a statement that men were superior. If woman was not even created until she was needed to cause havoc upon man, this seems to be a strong statement. Zues instructed the gods to create Pandora as a punishment to men. She was to be given the traits such as charm, strong desire, modesty, seduction, and cunning ways. She was created for the sole purpose of ruining mankind. The line: “The herald of the gods then named the girl Pandora, for the gifts which all the gods Had given her, this ruin of mankind.” (41) Pandora is portrayed as an object, a gift given to Epimetheus. Although Pandora is portrayed as an object she is an object that contains more power than any man poses. By opening the container sent with her from the gods she brings pain and evil to men. “But now the woman opened up the cask, And scattered pains and evils among men.”