ABSTRACT
The Animus is the name Jung gave to the women’s equivalent of the Shadow, and this chapter opens with an exploration of how they might be distinguished. Utilising an approach from phenomenological methodology, this chapter aims to create epoche. As a result, this chapter only uses sources from women, and only describes female gods in sport to find conclusions – perhaps a first for Jungian psychology. The Greek goddess and the archetype of the feminine archer Artemis, whose image is increasingly visible in films today such as Hunger Games and Brave, illustrates how almost-forgotten identities are returning.
At the turn of the twentieth century, Annie Oakley was regarded as the best with a gun in the West – quite a claim in the United States. This chapter describes other supreme women, now mostly forgotten, who could beat the men, such as Japanese Samurai Tamao Gozen and English football legend Lily Parr. This chapter uses a mythological example of feminine psychology, exploring the Greek myth of ‘The four trials of Psyche’. Subsequent sections connect the important meanings and knowledge for today’s aspiring athletes. An interview with a young female athlete of today compliments the findings. This is an optimistic time for women in sport; this chapter shares why.
