Penelope instead of Ulysses? Replacing heroic figures in constitutional theories’ myths

Leticia R. C. Kreuz

Chapter 27 in Elgar Companion to Female Chief Justices in Comparative Perspective, 2026, pp 579-586 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the concept of heroism and its relevance in constitutional democracies through a gender perspective. It begins by imagining an idealized constitutional democracy with no need for heroism and analyzing figures usually related to heroism in opposition to female heroic characters and their often misunderstood or diminished figures, relating the stories of Greek mythology's Ulysses, Circe, the Sirens, and Penelope. We highlight how even prominent women are commonly put aside in supporting roles instead of being represented as main characters – which also happens in democracies and constitutional Courts. Standard heroic characteristics differ from the ones that heroines showcase, such as strategic thinking, resilience, and loyalty, leading women to impostor syndrome or diminishing their importance in male-dominated fields. We conclude that needing heroes in a constitutional democracy indicates underlying issues, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and empowering heroines to inspire the growth and strengthening of our societies’ democratic institutions.

Keywords: Penelope; Ulysses; Constitutional democracy; Constitutional heroism; Constitutional Courts; Heroines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035308637
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