There are varying origin stories for Medusa, but the ancient poet, Ovid, tells us that she was once a beautiful mortal woman and a priestess of Athena. In the sacred temple of Athena, Medusa was raped, and the enraged goddess transformed Medusa into a Gorgon - a monster with snakes for hair.

Medusa would never be touched by a man again, for she could turn them to stone with only her gaze. But men are terrified by women who wield power, so it was not long before Perseus sought out Medusa to chop off her head, which was then used as a weapon.

Women who speak out against injustice are very often mockingly compared to Medusa. On the surface, it is disrespectful and belittling. Her femininity is used to undermine her and diminish the value of her words. But there is a deeper meaning in the comparison, and that is Medusa's decapitation, which says that women speaking must be silenced - by whatever means necessary.

But women have always heard Medusa’s voice. She has served as a symbol of protection (known as a Gorgoneion) in Greek culture for millennia, and more recently, as a universal symbol of power and feminine rage.

“You only have to look at the Medusa straight on to see her. And she's not deadly. She's beautiful and she's laughing.” -Hélène Cixous, Laugh of the Medusa.