Page "Creation myth" Paragraph 36

In emergence myths humanity emerges from another world into the one they currently inhabit.

The previous world is often considered the womb of the earth mother, and the process of emergence is likened to the act of giving birth.

The role of midwife is usually played by a female deity, like the spider woman of Native American mythology.

Male characters rarely figure into these stories, and scholars often consider them in counterpoint to male oriented creation myths, like those of the ex nihilo variety.