Women and Other Monsters

the long version

"This essay collection uses female monsters from Greek mythology to explore traits that women are taught to suppress, and encourage readers to embrace them instead"-- The folklore that has shaped our dominant culture teems with frightening female creatures. In stories chiefly written by men, women who step out of bounds-- angry or greedy or ambitious, overtly sexual or not sexy enough-- are unnatural, monstrous. Through fresh analysis of eleven female monsters, including Medusa, the Harpies, the Furies, and the Sphinx, Zimmerman takes us on an illuminating feminist journey through mythology. She guides readers to reexamine their relationships with traits like hunger, anger, ugliness, and ambition, teaching readers to embrace a new image of the female hero. Monsters get to be complete, unrestrained, and larger than life. -- adapted from jacket