Untamed

Published in 2020, Glennon Doyle’s “Untamed” is a shocking memoir that created a social phenomenon by calling on women around the world to “break the cages that bind you and reclaim your wild soul.” While candidly chronicling her past addiction, painful marriage, and the discovery of true love in an unexpected place, Doyle sharply indicts how women have been “tamed” from childhood to fit into the mold of the “good woman” demanded by society. This work serves as a powerful guide for trusting one’s own intuition (Knowing) and walking a path of truth, even if it is imperfect.

The author, Glennon Doyle, is a bestselling author, activist, and founder of the popular blog “Momastery.” Having once attempted to perfectly perform the role of a “good Christian wife and mother,” the incident of her husband’s infidelity forced her to realize how her life had been a sandcastle built on the approval and expectations of others. In this work, Doyle speaks not with sophisticated theory, but with a voice full of pain, humor, and overwhelming passion about the process of reclaiming “sovereignty” as a human being.

A central symbolic motif in the story is the episode of Tabitha the cheetah at the zoo. Raised in an enclosure from a young age, Tabitha is taught to forget she is a cheetah and behave like a dog, obeying the humans who feed her. Doyle argues that Tabitha’s image is a projection of modern women. Do we discard our inner wilderness and powerful stride for the “dog food” of stability and praise, pretending to be “happy” in cages designed by someone else? Doyle’s questions sharply awaken the dormant sense of being “Untamed” deep within the reader’s heart.

The core concept of the book is “Inner Knowing.” Doyle states that we all have a deep, quiet place within us that instantly understands “what is right.” However, social education and the pressure of being a “good mother/good wife” drown out that voice. When she redefined her sexuality and fell in true love with Abby Wambach, a former Olympic soccer player, it was this “Inner Knowing” that supported her despite the intense criticism and confusion from those around her. Determining one’s own life means not betraying one’s self, even if it disappoints the world.

From a feminist perspective, “Untamed” powerfully advocates for “bodily autonomy” and the “affirmation of desire.” Doyle criticizes how women have been taught to view the abandonment of time for themselves, joy, and anger as a virtue. She asserts that “devotion” that sacrifices oneself to the extreme actually castrates women’s spirits and only passes on an unfree way of life to the next generation. Her argument that a mother shining according to her own passion is the greatest empowerment for her daughter—a true sense of “revolutionary mothering”—provided deep relief to many mothers.

The book also speaks realistically about the importance of mental health through her struggles with eating disorders and depression. Rather than treating pain and anxiety as “problems to be erased,” Doyle proposes reframing them as “guidance” that teaches what the self is trying to learn or where it is trying to go. Feeling all the feelings is a much healthier and truly brave choice than pretending to be happy by faking oneself.

Doyle’s style is short, punchy, and each episode is as intense as a stake driven into the heart. She vividly carves complex social problems out of seemingly trivial domestic conversations or daily scenes and connects them to universal feminist themes: cleaning the house, talking with children, watching a sports game. Within all these landscapes are hidden hints of how “invisible walls that trap women” exist and how to overcome them.

Regarding intersectionality, Doyle shows the traces of an honest struggle to be aware of her privilege as a white woman and how to use it for the liberation of others. She teaches that her own liberation must not be built on the oppression of others, showing that true freedom is inextricably linked to activism for justice. Reclaiming oneself is the first and essential step toward making the world a more just place.

Immediately following the publication of “Untamed,” the world was hit by a pandemic. Millions of women confined to their homes encountered Doyle’s words, noticed the “cages” of their own lives, and began transformations, both quiet and intense. Her slogan, “We can do hard things,” became a watchword for surviving difficult times. Famous figures like Adele and Reese Witherspoon expressed passionate support, establishing the work’s status as essential reading for modern women.

Doyle also provides a sharp analysis of how religion and traditional values have fueled and controlled women’s guilt. She states that God should not be a force that tries to tame you, but an infinite love that seeks to liberate you into your true self. This spiritual redefinition brought deep healing and liberation to many readers who grew up in traditional religious environments yet continued to feel a sense of misalignment.

In conclusion, Glennon Doyle’s work is a shining “wild roar” for women who have been silenced. It speaks gently and firmly to the reader, “Stop performing.” The answer to where you are and what you truly want is not in anyone’s advice, but only in your own inner wilderness.

By reading this book, we realize that the boundaries beneath our feet are mere white sand, like those of Tabitha the cheetah. What Glennon Doyle demonstrated is the truth that living as oneself carries the risk of disappointing others, but it is the only way to truly free oneself and those around them. When finished, invisible wings will have grown on our backs, and we will be ready to run with all our might through the wilderness called our true lives. Untamed—it is an invitation to be reborn into this world as the master of your own self.