Female Archetypes

• Aphrodite

  The ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, who turns wise men into fools with her beauty and desire
• The seductive muse


  • A strong woman who knows what she wants, with a lust for life and many sensual experiences
  • Her openly sexual nature and the power it gives her are too much for society to handle
• What the seductive muse cares about


  Men, being the center of attention and most desired woman, her body as part of her identity
• What the seductive muse fears

  Losing her sexuality, allure and creativity, rejection, aging, not being the center of attention
• What motivates the seductive muse

  Self-actualization, the need for love, connection, and creativity
• How others see the seductive muse

  She is sexual, colorful, full of love for life, has an inner glow and "star quality"
• The seductive muse's assets

  • Loves being the center of attention, is smart and creative, loves herself and her body, enjoys sex and female friendships
• The seductive muse's flaws

  • Unable to do things alone, lives for the moment, falls in and out of love easily, is manipulative and impulsive, very self-focused
• The femme fatale

  Deliberately uses her charm to control men and get them to do things against their nature, luring nice men to crime and murder
• The femme fatale


  • Feels she can trust no one, deliberately manipulates others with sexual promises, has no morals, is concerned with money and power, is unfaithful, uses her physical appearance to draw others in
• Artemis/The Amazon

  The Greek goddess of hunting, wild nature, and chastity, a feminist who cares more about the female cause than her own safety
• What the Amazon cares about

  The feminine, nature, the earth, looking after women and children, fighting patriarchy, believing everyone deserves to be free and independent
• What the Amazon fears

  Losing her freedom and independence, losing to a man, being vulnerable, other women and children dying when she could've helped
• What motivates the Amazon

  Survival, getting behind a cause she cares about, saving a woman's or child's life
• How others see the Amazon

  She doesn't care much about her appearance, her athletic figure is alluring but intimidating, she can seem cold and distant but also playful in nature
• The Amazon's assets

  • Wants to be self-sufficient, prefers female friendships, values women and children, willing to fight to the death, prefers function over style
• The Amazon's flaws

  • Can be opinionated and thickheaded, puts blinders on, becomes irrational, can be boastful, may take on traits of her aggressors
• The Gorgon

  The villainous side of the Amazon, who will do anything to aid another woman even if it means killing an innocent man, driven by rage and a lack of remorse
• The Gorgon

  • Instinctual and shows no remorse, wants instant gratification and justice, creates extremely emotional reactions, acts as a dictator, believes truth and law have no place, will sacrifice herself to get an enemy, exhibits reckless behavior
• Athena/The Father's Daughter

  The Olympian Goddess of Wisdom and War, who forms alliances with strong men to achieve her goals and argues against the female cause to prove she's on the men's side
• What the Father's Daughter cares about

  Aligning herself with powerful men and supporting patriarchy, how men view her, winning and seeing her team win
• What the Father's Daughter fears

  Female friendship, which reminds her of her own femaleness, and losing control or the war
• What motivates the Father's Daughter

  The need to know, understand, and belong, challenges that allow her to use her strategic strengths, competition
• How others see the Father's Daughter

  She is accepted by men as one of their own, women can say what they want of her but she feels they usually wind up admiring her accomplishments
• The Father's Daughter

  • Prefers male friendships to female
  • Values work and career above all else
  • Is willing to do anything for the team
  • Is self-reliant
  • Is very smart and intellectual, very confident and self-assured
• The Father's Daughter's Flaws

  • Is an avid supporter of patriarchy
  • Gets upset with other women who complain about inequality
  • Is only attracted to powerful men
  • Is a workaholic
  • Is always strategizing
  • Is unable to fully express her feminine side and be in touch with her body
• The Backstabber

  As a villain, the Father's Daughter will trample others to reach her goals. She can use her calculating, strategic mind to outsmart anyone, and her alliances with powerful men allow her to do this. Sometimes these men take advantage of her loyalty.
• Her whole identity can become wrapped up in her career. Losing it is like death to her. She'll become disloyal before she lets that happen.
• She'll also vehemently fight a woman who fights for women's rights. She doesn't want to admit that the playing field isn't equal for all because that means it's not equal for her.
• She wants to distance herself from her feminine side and all its weaknesses as she sees it.
• She doesn't understand what's wrong with wanting to be successful, powerful, and on top.
• She enjoys the company of men more than women but always has a trump card waiting in the wings to revenge any colleague who betrays her.
• Characteristics of the Backstabber

  • Feels trapped
  • Thinks of herself first
  • Plays off of the sweet little woman stereotype perfectly when it suits her
  • Has no problem destroying another's life or career
  • Relies on the kindness of strangers in her time of need
  • Lets others feel good about helping "her so they let their guard down"
  • Is an expert liar until her buttons are pushed and she lashes out, spilling her true feelings
  • Is paranoid and feels that others are plotting against her
  • Has trouble relaxing
  • Can't confide in or collaborate with colleagues
  • Detaches herself from the group
• Demeter is the goddess of the harvest and presides over grains and the fertility of the earth.
• Demeter searches for her abducted daughter, Persephone (wife of Hades). She cares not for herself but only for her child.
• The Nurturer

  Has a sense of duty to help others. Channels her energy into helping and caring for others. Her identity is wrapped up in her children or those she cares for. They give her life purpose and meaning.
• What the Nurturer cares about

  • The welfare of her children whether there's danger present or not
  • Putting others ahead of herself
  • Providing for the entire group and bestowing amazing gifts to people she hardly knows
  • Making sure everyone else is happy before she examines how she feels
• What the Nurturer fears

  Losing the person in her care. Her whole identity and reason to live depends upon caring for another.
• What motivates the Nurturer

  Love and belonging. Motherhood and nurturing give her a reason to live.
• How others see the Nurturer

  • Dependent, needy, and passive aggressive
  • Tends to take on many tasks at once, trying to please so many people, overwhelming herself
  • Not concerned with being sexy and doesn't care much for the latest fashions