Many cultures from which myths originate value motherhood, a belief that carried over from matriarch-led religions and cultures. Motherhood is seen as something sacred, and women are shown to be strong and capable in their own right, especially when it comes to their children being in danger. One of the most well-known myths that addresses this idea is the myth of Demeter and Persephone. This myth originated in ancient Greece, and was a way for the Mycenaeans to "prudently incorporate into their own religion the Great Goddess that the particular matriarchal community was accustomed to worshipping" (Rosenberg 93). While the Mycenaeans incorporated female goddesses, they kept these goddesses in subservient positions when compared to their male counterparts.

An example of this is clear in Persephone's role, where although she was Goddess of both the Underworld, and Goddess of the Earth, she still was "Hades' subservient wife" in the Underworld (Rosenberg 94). On Earth, where she functioned as "Demeter's loving daughter, Persephone lost her power as the life-giving Great Goddess. Although she still determined the seasons, her place of residence, rather than her life-giving power, controlled their cycle" (Rosenberg 94). Persephone never was the one who determined the seasons at all. When she lived on Earth, it was Demeter 's joy that caused the seeds to sprout, and when Persephone was in the Underworld, her mother's sorrow brought winter, and caused the seeds to become dormant.

From this, one might assume that Demeter was equal to her brothers and sisters, however her brother Zeus made decisions regarding Persephone without Demeter's knowledge or permission, therefore keeping Demeter subservient to the whims of Zeus.

Demeter's actions are directly triggered by Persephone's disappearance. She becomes forlorn and depressed and refuses to give up searching the world for her daughter. Finally, as a last resort, she approaches Apollo, and begs him to tell her what happened. Upon learning that Hades took her daughter, she goes to her brother Zeus, and asks him to help her get Persephone back. When she is turned down, she becomes furious, and plunges the world into drought. Out of fear that all mortals would die, Zeus agrees to help Demeter get Persephone back. Upon learning that Persephone would return to the Earth, Hades feeds her some pomegranate seeds to force her to come back to the Underworld. As a consequence, Persephone is required to return to the Underworld for a third of the year, causing Demeter to once again cause seed to lay dormant in the ground.

Some of the values in this myth include kindness, unconditional love, and tenacity. All mothers need these values to ensure that their kids are protected and grow up to be good individuals who can be a part of society. Demeter's unconditional love and tenacity led her to continue to search for her daughter, long after many others would have given up. Her kindness inspired Apollo to help her, when he might have otherwise balked at the idea of going against Zeus' plans. These values are still important today, not only for mothers, but for everyone to have.