Overview

The Perverse Feminine resurrects a long-buried psychic figure: The Perverse Feminine Archetype. Grounded in Intuitive Inquiry, this work builds on Jungian theory, feminist psychology, and myth to illuminate the archetypal constructs of forbidden power, deviant desire, and inherited shame shaping the collective psyche of cisgender women. Across careers, relationships, and inner lives, women in this study enliven the perverse through acts of subversion, refusal, creative expression, and sexual exploration. Through their stories, a meditation on the unconscious unfolds, unveiling the archetypal dimension as a portal to healing and integration. Distilled from the data, a four-stage framework maps the psychological journeys of research participants across the evolving inner landscapes, where pain, power, and transformation intertwine. Through evocative narratives that generate tools for archetypal engagement, this study offers individuals, theorists, and clinicians a guide to identity, self-discovery, and psychic wholeness within a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

Full Product Details

9781032596945

Table of Contents

Reviews

""We have all been shaped by the Perverse Feminine Archetype. Aradia’s stunning contribution examines this distortion through a synthesis of history, psychology, feminist theory, case studies, and heartfelt qualitative inquiry to uncover the labyrinth Western modernity built to conceal the monstrosities deposited by centuries of gender prejudice. Critically engaging Jungian depth psychology, this work illuminates the monster we were taught to reject within ourselves, revealing how, through courageous research with bold women, we can reclaim and integrate the essence of this once-demonized feminine force with joy and power into our wholeness of being.” Susan Rowland, PhD, professor of depth psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, and author of Jungian Literary Criticism: The Essential Guide ""At a time when patriarchal power has intensified in its quest to demean and diminish women’s political, social, and personal agency, The Perverse Feminine compellingly reminds us that old stories can be told anew and that power can be returned to the disenfranchised. This gutsy book shines a light on feminist spirituality, the mythological forces that haunt and condemn women, and the urgent need for radical inquiry into their voices. Aradia’s analysis is a beacon of interdisciplinary practice and a testament to what is possible when we insist on looking backwards, forwards, and, most importantly, within."" Breanne Fahs, PhD, clinical psychologist, professor of women and gender studies, Arizona State University, and author of Burn It Down! Feminist Manifestos for the Revolution ""Through Aradia’s insightful lens, we witness how women are forced to carry the archetypal projections of a dominant patriarchy—or face the consequences. Drawing on depth psychology, mythology, and feminist discourse, this well-researched and vital work illuminates how these projections shape women’s lived experience and psychic terrain, reinforcing systems of oppression. A compelling contribution to the ongoing struggle for women's emancipation from false and imprisoning narratives."" Stephen Julich, PhD, core faculty, Department of East-West Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies

Author Information

Kalen Aradia, PhD, is a feminist researcher and writer excavating archetypal forces buried in the collective shadow. Her work examines exiled emotions, forbidden desires, and instinctual truths to reveal the mythic structures that perpetuate psychic fragmentation.

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