Women in Mythology

It seems to me that the men and women are put into roles just as they were in The House on Mango Street. The men always seem to be strong, heroic; like the men from HOMS the men go out and get jobs and do whatever "manly" men do. On the other hand the women are distractions, damsels in distress, and beautiful but weak, this is exactly how the men in HOMS saw their daughters and wives.
Why can't there be more strong women in these myths. We need more women like Sarah Connors from Terminator, Mulan, Electra, Lara Croft, Charlies Angels, and Marion from Indiana Jones.

Today I went to see the movie "Clash of the Titans". It was a great movie with great action and heroics, and since we have started this project i couldn't stop thinking about all of the components and characters that we have been talking about.

Mostly we have been talking about archetypes being used in other stories and movies, but I noticed that they use beasts and characters too. For example there was the kraken which Perseus had to defeat and it dawned on me that it was the same beast that was in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Also they mentioned Centaurs which are also the animals living in the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter.

Not only do other movies use their beasts but the match-up between the hero and what monster stands between them and the enemy. One big one that stands out is in "Sleeping Beauty" where Prince Phillip has to defeat the dragon/Maleficent. Another example is in the new Tim Burton movie "Alice in Wonderland" where Alice had to kill the Jabberwocky.

Another idea I was pondering was why the Gods would have children with humans and have demi-god children that have the weaknesses of humans? Why wouldn't they have children with other gods to have even stronger and more powerful kids? I think that they did because they wanted them to fit in with humans so they can rise up only when they need their heroics. Also I think that they wanted them to have emotions like humans and have a conscious and emotion for them to fight for. Why do you think they created demi-gods?

Archetypes

Even though I haven't read much into mythology yet, the Archetypes are definitely reminding me of movies. Most action movies definitely have many similarities with the bad guy, the hero, a quest, a love story. All of these components make a good action movie.
Thinking even deeper even some chick flicks have archetypes from mythology; one example is "Pretty in Pink". Andie is the hero, she and her friend are the outcasts, the evil figure is the "popular" clique. Star crossed lovers is Andie and Blane who's love is interrupted by his friends ridiculing him and "killing" his love for her. Her father is the old wise man, the fall when her love and best friend won't talk to her and the journey ends when she shows up at the dance without Blane and shows her strength. Of course there is a happy ending and she overcomes her shame of how she isn't as priviledged as other kids. Even better is that the hero is a woman!
That might be stretching the ideas of the Archetypes but this is the closest example the high school kids could to relate to.