The God, The Goddess, and Queer Theory

By Alex Mylles

Within much of paganism, especially Wicca and Druidry there are distinct male and female deities which have different attributes and represent different things on the basis of their gender. The purpose of this essay is to question this and ask whether this gendering is necessary, or if it is a symbol of the heteronormative patriarchal societies in which these religions have grown up. I shall begin with a definition of queer theory, and will attempt to provide you with a concise definition without boring, or confusing, you with the often obtuse theoretical prose of postmodern and poststructural scholars (although if that's your thing I can point you in the right direction). Therefore I shall use Steven Seidman's definition in Social Postmodernism, 'queer theory is less a matter of explaining the repression or expression of a homosexual minority than an analysis of the hetero/homosexual figure as a power/knowledge regime that shapes the ordering of desires, behaviours, and social institutions, and social relations - in a word the constitution of the self and society.' Central to this project is a recognition that differences in gender or sexuality are social constructions; that is they are social artefacts that have no relationship to biology. To quote Judith Butler 'there is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender; that identity is performatively constituted by the very expressions that are said to be its results,' (Gender Trouble). As evidence for this theory, she cites the cultural act of drag, claiming that the imitative nature of drag reveals the imitative structure of gender. This indicates the contingent character of gender, in that a man can appropriate the cultural appellation 'man' or 'woman' and a woman can appropriate the appellation 'man' or 'woman' as well. Simply put, nothing is inherently masculine or feminine and those signifiers have no relationship to chromosomal sex.

I shall now attempt to apply this theoretical framework to the God/dess. The Goddess is associated with fertility, childbirth and is seen as a maiden, mother and crone, whilst the God is the hunter in the forest and is seen as lustful, rather than loving as the Goddess is. In the wheel of the year the God and Goddess go through courtship rites, sex and childbirth; the epitome of heterosexuality. Whilst I would in no way term paganism a homophobic path, the above does create problems for those who are not heterosexual or who do not subscribe to solid gender norms.

Why is it that it is only the Goddess that is generally associated with childbirth and fertility? Does not it require a fertile God to produce a child as well? I believe that in paganism there is quite a focus on the Goddess because she has been left out of the newer, monotheistic, religions, however, this does not mean that the positive aspects of both femininity and masculinity cannot be interwoven into one deity or spiritual entity.

Rather than try to put forward an authoritative opinion on this matter, I shall explain my personal beliefs and leave you to think if they have any value for you. As someone who has been working with queer theory for the past few years, and agreeing with much of it I found it increasingly hypocritical of me to sustain a belief in a gendered God and Goddess, as it goes against my theoretical values. There are many varied aspects of human behaviour, such as emotion, valour, caring, compassion, strength, rationality and so on, that, rather than being seen as equally applicable to both men and women, society has attributed genders to. Historically those attributes deemed feminine have generally had a lower status that those deemed masculine - witness gender segregation in the market place for proof of this. I think a similar thing has happen with the God and Goddess; traditionally feminine attributes are associated with the Goddess and masculine with the God.

However, this does not have to be so. One could have the God/dess manifesting both 'masculine' and 'feminine' attributes simultaneously which would blur the boundaries between male and female, however this still presents problems when one considers the multitude of myths surrounding the God/dess. My way around this is to see these myths as merely symbolic of something deeper and more fundamental: the cycle of the seasons and the changes immanent in them. As such, to me what the God/dess do at particular times of the year is relatively unimportant as I focus more on their underlying meanings.

Furthermore, to the extent to which I believe in deities, I do not see them as being two gendered (or genderless) beings. Rather, I tend to believe in some kind of ephemeral being that has both 'masculine' and 'feminine' attributes as defined by this society. The problem with this is finding the language to describe it due to the degree to which gender is embedded in society. When the God and Goddess are used in rituals I see it as calling to the 'masculine' and 'feminine' parts of my self, rather than something outside me. Partly for this reason I see Nature as the supreme deity as this is something that is not so visibly gendered.

In conclusion, I have demonstrated how the God/dess are gendered beings, and some of the problems with this. I have also advanced some of my solutions to these issues. Whether you agree with me or not will depend largely on your own personal beliefs, but I hope I have provided something for you to muse over.