ABSTRACT
The goal of this chapter is to nudge analytical psychology into the twenty-first century by critiquing traditional Jungian theory on three significant concepts: sex, gender, and “the opposites.” After briefly considering the interaction of myth and imagination, the author utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to scrutinize gender/sex and “opposites” against the backdrop of an old myth (“the battle of the sexes”). In the process, she considers Jung’s views on each concept and presents her own “take” on each as well. Then, linking gender/sex and the concept of opposites, she summarizes the results of her analysis as a series of “axioms” which serve as a foundation for sketching a new, still-emerging myth (“a nonbinary world”) and for discussing what can happen when these two opposing myths collide (as they are currently doing). The chapter concludes with a series of reflections on the issues raised, some remarks clarifying the author’s hopes for future thinking, and a number of questions aimed at challenging Jungian colleagues (and others) to start thinking differently about some long-held concepts.
