If you’ve ever thought about what the world would be like without men (or women), keep reading: the Amazons have the answer to your long-awaited question. According to Greek mythology, the Amazons are the daughters of Ares, the God of War. Although there are many versions of the mythology and their story, their most known attributes are as such: they are a female-only warrior clan living near the Black Sea, bargaining with nearby groups to procreate, and if they bear a girl, she becomes a part of their clan. Some sources differ on what they do with the boys who are born to them, either giving them back to the male or using them as slaves. People have long wondered if the Amazons were a real group of women rather than a myth. Besides their alleged divine origins, they are considered a myth not because of any supernatural elements, but because there is no proof of their existence. The closest archaeology has come is the findings of various groups within Thracians in the Black Sea region. However, their structures are a bit different from what is known of the Amazons.  

Overall, the Amazons are known to be “masculine”— whatever the men did in that era, they did it too. Even as a myth, they challenge the status quo. Throughout history, men have been cherished for their masculinity and acts associated with masculinity. By contrast, women have always existed in the private sphere and are ‘supposed’ to be feminine.   

The Amazons challenged that view: they were warriors that inhabited both the public and private spheres. Despite having nearly everything in common with the men during those ages, they were seen as ‘the other’ – and still are – due only to their gender. People even assumed the Amazons used to cut off their right breasts in order to better use their bows and arrows. However, we know that one does not need to cut off their breast to use these weapons, the best example being the modern-day Olympics. This ties into the idea that women ‘need to’ look or act like men in order to excel in male-dominated fields. We can see a similar phenomenon happening today as well. Women in high positions are known (or stereotyped) to have short hair with more masculine features and wear darker colours, as light colours are associated with femininity. Although short hair should have no correlation with being a leader, women who embody masculine features tend to be taken more seriously in the workplace.  

Yet, no matter how close one gets, women are still viewed as ‘the other’. Writings on the Amazons describe them as weak and incomparable to male heroes. They are mocked and seen as the ‘niche’ or ‘weird’ part of the mythology, even today.   

But if we were to learn from the Amazons, what could they show us? Most people would assume that they act as a model for how society would function without men. However, I believe they represent what a society would be like without women. Although the Amazons were women, the little information we have on them suggests they embodied traditional masculine features and behaviours. They most likely didn’t exemplify traditional perceptions of feminine attributes, or participate in traditional feminine roles. However, many scholars are quick to judge them and write about them as weak and inapt to survive, often attributing these characteristics to the fact that the Amazon were women. I disagree: if anything, they were closer to our understanding of masculinity than femininity.   

Lastly, the Amazons show us that women have historically been seen as ‘the other’ and still are. There is an expectation for women to look more masculine (or similar to men) in order to excel in their field (which I find unnecessary), yet when they do, they are still judged.  Although the 21st century cannot be fully compared to hundreds of years ago, there is obvious continuity. Perhaps our final lesson from the Amazons is that men will judge women regardless of how masculine or feminine we are – we should embody the ideal we feel most comfortable in, challenging the status quo as the Amazons did – and continue – to do.  

(To learn more, go to: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amazon-Greek-mythology).