Episode 11: Eternal Feminine – Woman in Myth and Imagination

In this episode, we turn to Chapter 1 of the Myths section (pages 192–255), where Beauvoir critically analyzes how women have been constructed in mythology, literature, religion, and philosophy. She examines how the figure of “woman” has been idealized, romanticized, demonized, and mystified—reduced to archetypes such as the mother, the muse, the virgin, or the temptress. These myths, often created by men, obscure the lived reality of women and serve to maintain their subjugation. Join us as we unpack how cultural narratives have shaped—and distorted—the image of woman throughout history and thought.