Original Research

Engendered Representations: Exploring Sexuality through Symbols and Myths

Rory du Plessis, Marinda Maree
Verbum et Ecclesia | Vol 30, No 2 | a55 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v30i2.55 | © 2009 Rory du Plessis, Marinda Maree | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 16 July 2009 | Published: 09 September 2009

About the author(s)

Rory du Plessis, Institute for Women, South Africa
Marinda Maree, Institute for Women, South Africa

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Abstract

This article reflects the findings of a project that was conducted by the Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Pretoria. In particular, the project sought to dialogue with religious and cultural leaders on the taboos, myths and misconceptions of human sexuality.The article provides an analysis of the symbols and myths of sexuality that were presented by these leaders.These symbols and myths were demystif ed to reveal their alignment to patriarchal gender divisions and inequality.This alignment proves problematic for women, as it views men as possessors of their bodies – insofar as women’s bodies are conceived as the vessels for men’s body fluids and the container of the foetus.


Keywords

gender; patriarchy; semen; sperm

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