The woman vs the womb: the dismembering of the female body and segmentation of female divinity

Abhirami Sankaran

In the beginning of this semester one topic we discussed was the symbolism of divinity. These symbols can be seen from the Herms of ancient Greece to the Lingas in Hinduism. Many divine symbols take the semblance of genitalia, whose connection to life is rather obvious. Jung was one scholar who was particularly fond of these symbols. In his work he often referenced how different dreams could be interpreted, he would suggest for example that a cave one struggled to emerge from was a womb and the struggle indicative of an attempt to gain independence. In his writings these symbols of feminine divinity are something to be overcome and separated from, their presence itself contaminating to male power. This theme of separation from femininity appears in multiple forms throughout psychoanalysis and other subjects which focus on the interpretation of symbols. One specific segregation of femininity that I often see is the distillation of female divinity to the production of life, specifically the womb. While male phallic symbols are often interpretated as an indication of strength, perseverance, and power. Female symbols are reduced to childbearing, childrearing, and nurture. Though this may seem a small gripe, it is emblematic of a pervasive confinement of femininity.

             When femininity and female divinity is reduced to the divine power of an incubator, women are reduced to the same role. The message sent is that women are most close to the divine when they serve this role. It disallows focus on other aspects of femininity. When it is divine to bear children, it is shameful to talk of the pain that femininity requires. We are born into bodies designed for pain, yet we are expected to welcome this with a placating smile. To give up power as it isn’t our role and accept the designs of others. Yet how can I possibly accept that this is the power in femininity. How can I accept perseverance as simply masculine when it is me and mine that are required to suffer on a monthly basis without saying a word, lest we make those around us uncomfortable. How can I accept strength as masculine when there are a great number of women who have assumed that heart attacks were simply normal pain (https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/19/health/heart-attack-symptoms-women-study/index.html). How can I accept power as masculine when women are expected to work yet still do twice the amount of unpaid labor as men (https://fortune.com/2022/11/10/unpaid-labor-gender-wage-gap/).  

             The symbols attached to femininity may seem trivial but women cannot be accepted as more that our wombs until the symbols of femininity are seen to represent such.