Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and Cult of the Virgin Mary

In Marina Warner’s book, Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary, the life of Mary is detailed, as well as her place in history. The degrees of worship throughout the centuries are explained, ranging from the early ignorance of her role as the mother of Christ to the Marian devotion of the medieval period. In addition to the historical element, Warner examines the myths regarding the Virgin Mary, and how those misconceptions have shaped the role of the Virgin and of all women in today’s society.

For centuries, and in many different theological contexts, woman has been associated with sin. From the Garden of Eden to Salome, the temple dancer who received the head of John the Baptist, women have played an integral role somehow in introducing sin to the people. I

The Madonna/Whore complex is one that has been attributed to both men and women. Women who have this complex express confusion regarding their “role” in society, and how their sexuality plays a part in it. Men who suffer from this complex believe that sex somehow makes a “pure” woman “dirty.” He might be able to have sex with several different women, but will be unable to emotionally connect with any of them. What the harborers of this complex need to understand is that a woman can be both sexual and respected.

Why do I believe this book is important in regards to this class? There are many reasons. Primarily, it is because (like it or not) women will continually be held to the ideals of the Virgin Mary. Chaste, kind, benevolent, submissive, and pure. It doesn’t matter whether we’re in the boardroom or in the supermarket. Our capability and the level of respect that we receive will always partly be based on how much sexuality we reveal.

ronically, the representation of the Virgin Mary, whose role is that of the “ideal woman”, has created in societies a feeling of inferiority in women. Mary is the ideal; she is pure and chaste, a mother, and a woman whose life reflects humility, sweetness, benevolence, and wisdom. Her female worshippers, however, led lives of sin, submissiveness, and imperfection. That the Virgin Mary was seen as the perfect woman, and having such an unattainable level of that perfection, led to a chasm between the Living Woman and the Virgin.

I recall the discussion in class, weeks ago, about how a woman’s appearance affects the way society forms their opinions of her. A large part of the discussion was eliminating as much sexuality from our dress as possible: no cleavage showing, no miniskir

Some topics in this essay:
Origins Intimate, Virgin Mary, Love Story, Sex City, Mary Chaste, Jessica Simpson, English American, Introduction Throughout, Christ Marian, John Baptist, virgin mary, madonna/whore complex, girls bad, woman virgin, pure chaste, warner’s book, mother christ, ideal woman, woman ideal,