Old Norse, Gender Roles, and the Vanir.
First of all, before getting into the post, I want to say thank you to all my followers here. Several people have become followers in the past week and as of now I am at 97 followers. Yea, it may not seem like much to some people but when I started blogging almost two years ago I didn't expect much. I just wanted to say thank you to all who follow and read my blog, because I truly value all of you. Thank you all so much.
So I decided to post today in a sort of general response to some ideas someone presented in one of my G+ communities about gender roles as a model of religious belief in regards to the Old Norse. Someone posted a thesis argument about how the ideals of Old Norse religion, such as the concept of wyrd, supported strict gender roles within the culture. Now I will admit that the argument was well supported, yet couldn't help but feel it was also a bit lacking when it came to the Vanir gods and their component as an integral part of Norse beliefs.
Basically the idea of the thesis was that women as possessors of the ability to birth life/ face death made women more suitable to the domestic sphere and lent them a sort of foundational aspect on which the family could rest. In other words, the inherent risk of childbirth not only imparts a sort of prophetic power to women but also makes them in some sense biologically wired for stability. In regards to the concept of wyrd, the women are comparable to the threads of warp, the structural threads which become the foundation of the tapestry which is woven.
Men on the other hand are comparable to the woof, the decorative aspects of the tapestry built upon the warp of wyrd. Men are seen biologically independent, facing little to no consequence in the process of creating children, and able to spread their seed easily and well into their lifespan, which in context of the cultural would probably seem like an inherent and everlasting quality, as most men did not survive past the ability to function sexually. They were viewed in some sense as the possessors of action and agents of change in ways in which women were not.
Now all this makes sense in regards to the support given by the writer, yet it rests heavily on patriarchal Aesir based evidence. For example the behavior of matrons such as Frigga in comparison to Odin, and the ergi qualities often associated with the practice of seidhr and other forms of magical activity when applied to the rare male practitioner. What bothers me about this thesis is that it almost entirely neglects the Vanir pantheon, specifically the gender qualities reflected by them.
Its seems to me such a thesis about absolute gender roles becomes questionable when one realizes the importance of the Goddess Freyja, even in practice and mythos which are essentially Aesiric. If such gender roles were the cultural absolute, then how does one explain the actions/personalities of the Vanir gods, particularly the main gods Freyja/ Freyr and Njord/Nerthus.
All of the Vanir Gods act in a sense outside of the gender roles proposed by the mentioned thesis. Freyja is a Goddess of both love and war, and possesses armies of her own comparable to those of Odin. Her role as a mother is marginalized in the Lore, mentioned but in a sentence or two, almost as a sidenote. Her actions are often the spur for events, and it seems difficult to reconcile Freyja with the ideal of grounded stability. Freyr himself is associated heavily with the concept of pleasure and domesticity, two ideals which conflict greatly with the idea that male value comes only from conquest. He is portrayed not as the ideal warrior but rather a compassionate protector, "loosing the bonds/chains of all who call on him" and yet is also called "the greatest of all the gods."
Njord is often derided as effeminate or ergi within the lore in both word and action, another deviance from the ideal male figure. Nerthus, far from being a domestic goddess, is portrayed as a goddess both fearful and mysterious, a face ever hidden behind the veil and possessing a facade which kills all who dare look upon her.
So the question for me is this. If, as the thesis asserts, these gender roles of men and women are nearly absolute, how does one explain the popularity of the Vanir pantheon historically when their actions are almost directly opposed to those same gender roles?
Now I realize that there is much to indicate that the Vanir also illustrate behaviors in keeping with those proposed gender ideals. Thought they illustrate differences, we know through the Lore atleast that the two pantheons had enough in common to integrate on some levels. Yet can anyone who has truly read the lore deny that the Vanir are often viewed by their Aesir contemporaries as outside the accepted cultural and gender roles of their own culture? That the surviving stories of the Vanir often highlight not their similarities but their differences from the Aesir gods? The aquisition of Brisingamen, the wooing of Gerd, the ill fated marriage of Njord and Skadi (also a good example of alternate gender roles), all these stories present gender behavior which ranges outside the "norm" of Viking culture, particularly as it as understood in modern times, heavily derived from Romantic era scholarship.
What am I getting at? Well its quite simple. I simply don't believe that the culture of the Norse was so conservative as hardcore reconstructionists would like to portray.The disregard of the Vanir role in the Lore is symptomatic of the pasting of conservative ideology on the Norse culture by postmodern practitioners who latch on to the macho man aspects of gods such as Odin or Thor without any serious understanding of the the culture. In other words, Norse religion becomes a substitute for mainstream conservative ideology for those who hold to the values of Christianity yet feel stifled by its mythos. The opposition in behavior between the Vanir and Aesir is shuffled under the rug, and the spirit of patriarchy continues.
It still remains a mystery to me why some feel the need to cling to such antiquated ideals of gender which have no bearing in the modern age, and in many cases had little bearing on the past as well. The integration of the Vanir and Aesir should illustrate that gender roles were not static at all, yet by focusing solely on the Aesir, this is the exact sort of rubbish that some modern practitioners blather on and on about.
On one recent argument, a male Asatru told a woman whom he disagreed with that she needed to "read the Lore and know your role as a woman." Though directed at another, the comment made me seethe with rage. As a Freyja's woman, I could feel the rage of the Vanadis as well. It is such men (and women) whom she will finish off quickly.
In Frith
Cena
So I decided to post today in a sort of general response to some ideas someone presented in one of my G+ communities about gender roles as a model of religious belief in regards to the Old Norse. Someone posted a thesis argument about how the ideals of Old Norse religion, such as the concept of wyrd, supported strict gender roles within the culture. Now I will admit that the argument was well supported, yet couldn't help but feel it was also a bit lacking when it came to the Vanir gods and their component as an integral part of Norse beliefs.
Basically the idea of the thesis was that women as possessors of the ability to birth life/ face death made women more suitable to the domestic sphere and lent them a sort of foundational aspect on which the family could rest. In other words, the inherent risk of childbirth not only imparts a sort of prophetic power to women but also makes them in some sense biologically wired for stability. In regards to the concept of wyrd, the women are comparable to the threads of warp, the structural threads which become the foundation of the tapestry which is woven.
Men on the other hand are comparable to the woof, the decorative aspects of the tapestry built upon the warp of wyrd. Men are seen biologically independent, facing little to no consequence in the process of creating children, and able to spread their seed easily and well into their lifespan, which in context of the cultural would probably seem like an inherent and everlasting quality, as most men did not survive past the ability to function sexually. They were viewed in some sense as the possessors of action and agents of change in ways in which women were not.
Now all this makes sense in regards to the support given by the writer, yet it rests heavily on patriarchal Aesir based evidence. For example the behavior of matrons such as Frigga in comparison to Odin, and the ergi qualities often associated with the practice of seidhr and other forms of magical activity when applied to the rare male practitioner. What bothers me about this thesis is that it almost entirely neglects the Vanir pantheon, specifically the gender qualities reflected by them.
Its seems to me such a thesis about absolute gender roles becomes questionable when one realizes the importance of the Goddess Freyja, even in practice and mythos which are essentially Aesiric. If such gender roles were the cultural absolute, then how does one explain the actions/personalities of the Vanir gods, particularly the main gods Freyja/ Freyr and Njord/Nerthus.
All of the Vanir Gods act in a sense outside of the gender roles proposed by the mentioned thesis. Freyja is a Goddess of both love and war, and possesses armies of her own comparable to those of Odin. Her role as a mother is marginalized in the Lore, mentioned but in a sentence or two, almost as a sidenote. Her actions are often the spur for events, and it seems difficult to reconcile Freyja with the ideal of grounded stability. Freyr himself is associated heavily with the concept of pleasure and domesticity, two ideals which conflict greatly with the idea that male value comes only from conquest. He is portrayed not as the ideal warrior but rather a compassionate protector, "loosing the bonds/chains of all who call on him" and yet is also called "the greatest of all the gods."
Njord is often derided as effeminate or ergi within the lore in both word and action, another deviance from the ideal male figure. Nerthus, far from being a domestic goddess, is portrayed as a goddess both fearful and mysterious, a face ever hidden behind the veil and possessing a facade which kills all who dare look upon her.
So the question for me is this. If, as the thesis asserts, these gender roles of men and women are nearly absolute, how does one explain the popularity of the Vanir pantheon historically when their actions are almost directly opposed to those same gender roles?
Now I realize that there is much to indicate that the Vanir also illustrate behaviors in keeping with those proposed gender ideals. Thought they illustrate differences, we know through the Lore atleast that the two pantheons had enough in common to integrate on some levels. Yet can anyone who has truly read the lore deny that the Vanir are often viewed by their Aesir contemporaries as outside the accepted cultural and gender roles of their own culture? That the surviving stories of the Vanir often highlight not their similarities but their differences from the Aesir gods? The aquisition of Brisingamen, the wooing of Gerd, the ill fated marriage of Njord and Skadi (also a good example of alternate gender roles), all these stories present gender behavior which ranges outside the "norm" of Viking culture, particularly as it as understood in modern times, heavily derived from Romantic era scholarship.
What am I getting at? Well its quite simple. I simply don't believe that the culture of the Norse was so conservative as hardcore reconstructionists would like to portray.The disregard of the Vanir role in the Lore is symptomatic of the pasting of conservative ideology on the Norse culture by postmodern practitioners who latch on to the macho man aspects of gods such as Odin or Thor without any serious understanding of the the culture. In other words, Norse religion becomes a substitute for mainstream conservative ideology for those who hold to the values of Christianity yet feel stifled by its mythos. The opposition in behavior between the Vanir and Aesir is shuffled under the rug, and the spirit of patriarchy continues.
It still remains a mystery to me why some feel the need to cling to such antiquated ideals of gender which have no bearing in the modern age, and in many cases had little bearing on the past as well. The integration of the Vanir and Aesir should illustrate that gender roles were not static at all, yet by focusing solely on the Aesir, this is the exact sort of rubbish that some modern practitioners blather on and on about.
On one recent argument, a male Asatru told a woman whom he disagreed with that she needed to "read the Lore and know your role as a woman." Though directed at another, the comment made me seethe with rage. As a Freyja's woman, I could feel the rage of the Vanadis as well. It is such men (and women) whom she will finish off quickly.
In Frith
Cena
It seems that all people, not just Christians as some of us Pagans would say, are dependent on archaic gender roles to tell them how they and others should live. There is nothing wrong with people adhering to these standards, but to say that everyone must is not right. In many cultures their are the goddesses that don't fit with the cultural norms for what women should be. Artemis, Athena, Sekhmet, Kali, Pele... to name a few over several pantheons. You can usually find at least one in any religion. Just as such goddesses are worshiped, such women who go against "societal or religious norms" will exist. Warrior women, sexually liberated women, women who lead the masses.
ReplyDeleteTotally Agree Kristina, could not have said it better myself. And I would add that there are also plenty of men who do the same, portraying a character of compassion and equality instead of machismo or patriarchal aggressiveness.
DeleteOh indeed. I just loathe things that say 'A real man/woman does (enter whatever here)' A real man or woman does whatever they want. A man is still a man if he wears makeup, stays home with the kids, or (dare I say it?) CRIES. Traits are just traits. They don't make someone any more or less a man or woman.
DeleteAs someone who could be called ergi, this is why I feel drawn to Frey.
ReplyDeleteThe Aesir also had moments of breaking with gender roles, though, such as Loki's birthing for Sleipnir, Thor dressing in drag to recover mjolnir, and Odin's seidr practice. The latter speaks to me most, showing that Odin is willing to put aside his masculine pride in order to gain wisdom, even if that wisdom comes from a feminine source.
Sidenote, I don't have a blogspot account, but I'm adding your blog to my rss feed to follow!
Interesting perspective. I've enjoyed reading your blog so far.
ReplyDelete