ABSTRACT
In the children's refrain, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf? ," we find a denial of fear that, as such, is also a recognition of fear. The thrice-told tale in Genesis 12, 20, and 26 functions similarly. It says, in effect, "Who's afraid of the woman's sexual knowledge?" And it answers by reassuring the patriarch that there is no need to fear. But it betrays itself, for, like the ditty about the big bad wolf, it acknowledges that there is something to be feared. If the danger in these three stories is woman's sexuality and woman's sexual knowledge, who or what is in danger? To the question, "Who or what is afraid of the woman's sexual knowledge? ," the answer is "Patriarchy."
