Carol P. Christ discusses the role of the Goddess in society specifically in her essay Why Women Need the Goddess. She discusses the goddess' positive affirmations towards one's own power, body, will, as well as the valued bonds and heritage. Rather than the emphasis on a father-like figure such as the paternalistic God protecting the Judeo-Christian beliefs.

The first implication we see the Goddess having an effect on is a woman's power. This strengthens "female power as both beneficent and effective (Christ 603)" as an independent. The Goddess promotes an independent lifestyle for women to no longer look to the male genre for support. From a psychological aspect the Goddess means an end to the misguided patriarchal outlook that women's power is "inferior and dangerous." (Christ 607) With the fall of this view a reaffirmation grew behind the strength of women's role in society as well as allowing women to recognize and revere one's power with in themselves and in t

The last aspect of the goddess' significance on the lives of women is the stress put on one's bonds and heritage. The goddess symbolizes the importance of relationships between two women. Bonds such as those between mothers and daughters are only recently celebrated. They have for many years been overlooked, in favor of a woman's relativeness compared to her male companion. In Christian history the only mention of this important mother daughter relationship is that of a mother preparing her daughter to enter subordinate male dominant society. The Goddess impacting the woman's world is the Goddess that implicates four main focus points. She symbolizes a need to attribute proper respect and significance to a woman's power, body, will, and heritage. On these aspects I believe Carol Christ has made a well-developed essay. I can especially relate to the feminist value of the body. As any young girl can understand the shame and stigma associated with menstruation. Rather than maintaining a negative view of women's'

Some common words found in the essay are:
Women Goddess, Goddess Christ, Carol Christ, woman's power, power body, carol christ, goddess implicates, bonds heritage,
Approximate Word count = 687
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)