The Madonna-Whore Dichotomy
At some point in her lifetime, almost every woman has experienced a version of the “Madonna-Whore Dichotomy” (MWD). According to the American Psychological Association, the MWD, “…denotes polarized views of women in general as either ‘good’, ‘chaste’, and ‘pure’ or as ‘bad’, ‘promiscuous’, and ‘seductive whores.’” Poet Sor Juana Inez De La Cruz artfully illuminates this dichotomy in her poem, You Foolish Men, many years before the MWD theory even existed. Cruz attacks the way men project their own insecurities and anger onto women, essentially giving them no way to “win”, and how this behavior reinforces a toxic patriarchal structure. Although the poem was written hundreds of years ago, Cruz was way ahead of her time. Cruz’s poem still rings true in today’s world and is relevant to modern feminist movements.
In her poem, You Foolish Men, Cruz illustrates how many men back women into a metaphorical corner, from which they have no chance to redeem themselves. The speaker of the poem highlights how men will tempt women into sexual “sin”, and then blame those same women for their sins, and the men’s as well. In this way, women become an object of projection for men to take out their aggression, guilt, and self-hatred on, while avoiding actual confrontation of their shortcomings. Additionally, this objectification of women as tools, for men to cope with their own issues, reinforces a toxic patriarchal structure that not only makes women victims of emotional, mental, and social abuse, but it also prevents men from confronting and overcoming their mental issues. Cruz highlighted this social phenomenon well before it was ever psychologically studied or identified, and she clearly illustrated the difficult situations that many women find themselves facing.
To illustrate her points, Cruz uses several figures of speech including similes. She uses similes to demonstrate how “foolish” men create the thing they most abhor; women who are not considered “virtuous” under their standards. In the lines, “[they] …lay / the guilt on women, / not seeing [they're] the cause / of the very thing [they] blame,”(1-4) she sets the frame for the projection of men’s guilt onto women, which creates a paradox because then they say that guilt comes from the women on which they project. Later, Cruz uses a simile to say that such men “act just like a child / who plays the bogeyman / of which he's then afraid” (14-16). Here, she compares these men to children, which further illustrates their emotional immaturity and inability to cope with their own emotions. Cruz’s use of simile aids to solidify her theme of the difficulties women face due to a phenomenon like the MWD and critique the “foolish” men who perpetuate the toxic system.
In addition to the use of simile, Cruz alludes to ancient Greek and Roman figures to emphasize the different ideals men expect women to embody simultaneously, even if it is impossible. Cruz mentions how foolish men want to find “Thais” in the women he courts, but after he has slept with her, he expects her to be a “Lucretia”. These references are to Thais, a famous Greek courtesan who took many lovers, and Lucretia who was considered a virtuous wife of a nobleman until she was raped by a prince and then committed suicide. Men expect women to be these characters simultaneously, yet it is an impossible and unhealthy standard to set, which makes women constantly fall short of these men’s expectations and therefore makes women seem “less human”- even if the sentiment is completely untrue.
The Madonna-Whore Dichotomy is, unfortunately, a very prevalent issue that women have faced throughout history, and is something they still face in our modern society. Cruz’s use of literary techniques and artful insight clearly illustrated this phenomenon, well before it was officially discovered. She emphasizes how women are expected to please men’s desires, yet still maintain the twisted patriarchal idea of “innocence and purity”. Unfortunately, no matter what path they chose, the women are still punished for it. She uses her poetry to call out this toxic social system and bring light to an issue faced by many.
By Rosie Vollaro
Illustrations done in collaboration with the New Media Artspace at Baruch College. The New Media Artspace is a teaching exhibition space in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Baruch College, CUNY. Housed in the Newman Library, the New Media Artspace showcases curated experimental media and interdisciplinary artworks by international artists, students, alumni, and faculty. Special thanks to docent Milli Encarnacion for creating artwork for this piece.
Check the New Media Artspace out at http://www.newmediartspace.info/