Brunhild and Serena
In the Nibelungenlied, Brunhild’s physical strength is one of her defining traits as a character, both crucial to the story and conveying larger messages about gender relations during twelfth century Germany. Her supernatural strength is central to her initial characterization and the plot of the text. From the perspective of the outside male world, Brunhild’s physical strength constitutes a barrier between typically dominant men and the desired woman. From her perspective, her physical strength has the potential to act as a shield.
Regardless of the way Brunhild’s physical strength operates, it poses a threat to the outside male-dominated world and men’s sense of superiority. It is something to be conquered, robbed from Brunhild’s posession. This theme is central to Brunhild’s storyline and evident in how she ultimately loses her strength, after Siegfried (while invisible to Brunhild) sneaks into Brunhild’s room and repeatedly beats her until she is defeated. At that point, he rapes her, and she loses her supernatural physical strength. Brunhild’s loss of strength has a direct relationship to male access to her as a sexual object. The presence of her strength renders her literally and figuratively unattainable sexually--until men squelch this power.
The importance of female physicality and strength in evaluations of female worth exists in the modern world--notably, in the public treatment of Serena Williams, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player on eight occasions from 2002 to 2017. At the 2018 US Open final, Serena Williams ultimately received fines totaling $17,000 for three violations. While she had been vocal throughout her career about the prevalence of sexism (and racism) in professional tennis, after this math, she stated publicly that she believed sexism was the root cause of what happened in the 2018 match. She received a penalty for coaching, calling the umpire a “liar” and a “thief,” and for racquet abuse.
Quoted in a BBC article on the event, Williams said, “He’s never taken a game from a man because they said theif,” referring to the umpire she ridiculed during the match. In the same article, Grand slam singles champion Billie Jean King aligned with Williams, saying, “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” The context of a professional sport provides necessary context for understanding these unfair rulings against Williams. Penalizing female anger and frustration (while not doing the same for men) in a setting where strength and athletic ability are necessary belittles the women competing. Suggesting that female anger is unacceptable in the context of athleticism--a natural response in a high-intensity situation--is an attempt to invalidate the presence of women in these characteristically “un-feminine” fields.
The sexism Williams experienced in the 2018 US Open does not relate directly to the idea of her as a sexual object and the loss of Brunhild’s supernatural strength had little to do with her emotional response to an athletic event. Brunhild’s plot line in the Nibelungenlied is violent and results in her unconcensual sexual submission and the loss of her strength. Sexism against Williams in the US Open ocurred in the public sphere and was a response to her verbal statements and a display of anger. But even thoough some of the general public and notable people in athletics supported Williams’ accusations of sexism, the fines and charges still hindered the actual results of the match. In other words, sexism was a factor cost her the game. Brunhild’s loss of power and sexism against professional female athletes show the ways in which external forces attempt to control women who possess extreme physical strength.
Regardless of the way Brunhild’s physical strength operates, it poses a threat to the outside male-dominated world and men’s sense of superiority. It is something to be conquered, robbed from Brunhild’s posession. This theme is central to Brunhild’s storyline and evident in how she ultimately loses her strength, after Siegfried (while invisible to Brunhild) sneaks into Brunhild’s room and repeatedly beats her until she is defeated. At that point, he rapes her, and she loses her supernatural physical strength. Brunhild’s loss of strength has a direct relationship to male access to her as a sexual object. The presence of her strength renders her literally and figuratively unattainable sexually--until men squelch this power.
The importance of female physicality and strength in evaluations of female worth exists in the modern world--notably, in the public treatment of Serena Williams, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player on eight occasions from 2002 to 2017. At the 2018 US Open final, Serena Williams ultimately received fines totaling $17,000 for three violations. While she had been vocal throughout her career about the prevalence of sexism (and racism) in professional tennis, after this math, she stated publicly that she believed sexism was the root cause of what happened in the 2018 match. She received a penalty for coaching, calling the umpire a “liar” and a “thief,” and for racquet abuse.
Quoted in a BBC article on the event, Williams said, “He’s never taken a game from a man because they said theif,” referring to the umpire she ridiculed during the match. In the same article, Grand slam singles champion Billie Jean King aligned with Williams, saying, “When a woman is emotional, she’s ‘hysterical’ and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s ‘outspoken’ and there are no repercussions.” The context of a professional sport provides necessary context for understanding these unfair rulings against Williams. Penalizing female anger and frustration (while not doing the same for men) in a setting where strength and athletic ability are necessary belittles the women competing. Suggesting that female anger is unacceptable in the context of athleticism--a natural response in a high-intensity situation--is an attempt to invalidate the presence of women in these characteristically “un-feminine” fields.
The sexism Williams experienced in the 2018 US Open does not relate directly to the idea of her as a sexual object and the loss of Brunhild’s supernatural strength had little to do with her emotional response to an athletic event. Brunhild’s plot line in the Nibelungenlied is violent and results in her unconcensual sexual submission and the loss of her strength. Sexism against Williams in the US Open ocurred in the public sphere and was a response to her verbal statements and a display of anger. But even thoough some of the general public and notable people in athletics supported Williams’ accusations of sexism, the fines and charges still hindered the actual results of the match. In other words, sexism was a factor cost her the game. Brunhild’s loss of power and sexism against professional female athletes show the ways in which external forces attempt to control women who possess extreme physical strength.
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