Hero/Heroine? What’s the difference? True that men and women are typically one way or the other—watch Modern Dads on A&E, or, like me, just watch the commercials. These stay-at-home fathers are still real men—good fathers, but kind of cut-corners flakes (according to the female point of view, anyway).
I wrote a young adult novel entitled The Heroine’s Journey about two (connected) young women, one in Medieval England, and one in present-day America. Both are struggling with some serious issues in their lives.
One reader said to me, “But, really, what’s the difference then between the hero’s and the heroine’s journey?”
Well, maybe the women rely more on wit than on muscle then the men, but all are human, marching forth into life with courage, determination, and intelligence.
What’s different for women in today’s world may be a contemporary sense of empowerment. Women in our current culture (hopefully) have the understanding that a female is equal to a male and just as entitled to find an authentic path in her life, a way that emerges from the discovery of her real, underlying persona.
Still, even men have to uncover the actuality of who they are beneath the socialization that’s been handed them by family and societal tradition.
The journey is the human progression through our lives: mistakes and stumbles, brilliant intuitions, fear, and courage enough to jump into what must be done.
We are each the hero or heroine of this unwritten novel of who we are. The trip ahead belongs to each of us alone, but every one of us typifies all humans on the expedition into what life is. No one is unscathed by tribulation, but how we deal with what comes up makes us champions—even when our strategies are flawed or when we fail.
We are all marching to some kind of glorious resolution, yes, even the worst examples of our species. They are heroes and heroines in the making. Even if it takes more than one lifetime to liftoff.
In this blog, I’m going to discuss many aspects of the incredible voyage we’re all engaged in. Stay tuned.
The Hero(ine)'s Journey 
Love the new blog. Great topic for discussion.
I like the idea of journey as expedition because life with its challenges is more like an expedition.
Great idea, Miki. Look forward to more postings. Definitely announce them on FB so we know to check in. My only comment re what you state is my problem with the word “equal.” Men and women aren’t equal…we are very different and the word equal implies a constant that isn’t there. But what men and women are is equally human, equally frail and equally deserving of this journey’s opportunities and blessings. 🙂
Wow! You sure know how to put it forth. Look forward to hearing more from you G Miki!