The Once and Future Sex

November 14, 2022
This incisive revisionist history tracks “societal expectations of women” from the Middle Ages to today. Blogger and historian Janega (The Middle Ages: A Graphic History) notes that early Christian theologians relied on ancient and scientifically erroneous assumptions to argue against women’s education, sexual agency, and professional equity, and examines how these viewpoints still influence modern schools, churches, and workplaces. Throughout, she documents the gap between the Middle Ages’ virginal ideal of womanhood and women’s actual roles in society, noting that medieval women farmed, brewed alcohol, and ran large estates while taking primary responsibility for homemaking and childcare, or outsourcing those duties to other women. Janega also shows that modern and medieval women faced similar pressure to effortlessly achieve the right body shape (hourglass today; pear-shaped in the Middle Ages) and dress stylishly, and draws on theologian Hildegard of Bingen, poet Christine de Pizan, and other medieval women to offer an alternate perspective on their era. Accessible, informative, and clear-sighted about the insidious workings of misogyny, this is a persuasive call for deconstructing the past to create a more equitable future. Illus.

Starred review from June 10, 2024

In this provocative historical study, British scholar Janega (medieval and early modern history, London Sch. of Economics; The Middle Ages: A Graphic Guide) revisits the Middle Ages to show that contemporary beliefs regarding women, including expectations about their education, appearance, motherhood, work, and sexuality, can be traced to medieval Western ideologies. This work shows these beliefs were often based on Greek and poorly translated Roman philosophical works. Janega first examines the work of foundational ancient scholars, such as Aristotle, Plato, and Hippocrates, who viewed men as "essentially the default humans," while women were more of an afterthought, with little expected from them, given their physical and intellectual limitations. The Christian doctrine of original sin added a belief that women were oversexed and thus morally inferior to men. Janega offers welcome alternative perspectives from medieval women, including theologian Hildegard of Bingen and writer Christine de Pizan. Narrator Samara Naeymi perfectly captures Janega's breezy, often irreverent tone, which allows the work to be as entertaining as it is enlightening. Her lively pace and enthusiastic delivery provide an absorbing listening experience. VERDICT Anyone interested in women's studies or medieval history will be delighted with Janega's witty and insightful look at the long trail of medieval attitudes toward women, especially given Naeymi's sparkling performance.--Beth Farrell

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