The Medial and the Mother: A Complex Relationship between Archetypes

AbstractToni Wolff posited her theory of the “Structural Forms of the Feminine Psyche” in the mid-20th century. In this work she named four feminine archetypes: mother, hetaira, amazon, and medial. While there are interrelationships between each archetype, here I explore only the medial archetype as it relates to the mother archetype. The process of discovery involved deep, lengthy interviews with medial women. The feminine medial archetype is the least recognized in contemporary Western culture, and there are few roles in which a medial woman may express the power of this archetype. In fact, most medial women have never heard this term used to describe them. Many medial women consciously or unconsciously hide their true nature underground or move to the edges of society to protect this innate quality. Others occupy roles that don’t fit who they truly are, in which case the woman experiences an internal restlessness, tension, or despair. In my studies of the medial archetype, I interviewed many medial women on different aspects of their experience. All indicated they had an uneasy or complicated relationship with the mother archetype and also with the mother role. I shall explore some of what this has been for them, as well as why it may be so common. Finally, I invite a glimpse into the courtroom at the trial of the man who raped my daughter as an illustration of how my own mother and medial energies interacted. Additional informationNotes on contributorsRoberta Bassett CorsonRoberta Bassett Corson, PhD, is author of the book Stepping Out of the Shadows: Naming and Claiming the Medial Woman Today (published by Mandorla Books, 2022, and honored with a silver award by Nautilus Book Awards). She is a retired clinical/depth psychologist and United Methodist clergy. Her dissertation was on the Wounds of Medial Women in Contemporary Western Culture. As a medial woman who is aware of the many women like her who long to be called by name, she continues to explore the dimensions of mediality with the hope that we can all be named and live freely in our world today.