Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry The Rise and Fall of Private Life - Tiffany Jenkins | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 157
Aug 10, 2025
Tiffany Jenkins, a writer, cultural historian, and trustee of the British Museum, dives into the evolution of privacy. She explores how societal shifts, from the 18th century to today, transformed personal and communal norms. The discussion covers urbanization's impact on social relationships and the challenges posed by Victorian hypocrisy. Jenkins also tackles the haunting legacy of abortion as a politicized issue, alongside the transition from inner self-examination to outward projections influenced by modern media.
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Ancient Public Surveillance
- In ancient Athens private life was undervalued and surveillance was routine.
- Tiffany Jenkins shows privacy as a modern invention tied to political roles.
Communal Toilets And Sex In History
- Toilet and sexual practices varied widely across history and often lacked modern privacy.
- Jenkins notes sex and toilets could be communal and monitored for moral policing.
Royalty's Private Acts Were Public
- Royals had extremely public private lives because lineage proved political authority.
- Jenkins describes birthing scenes and public scrutiny at court to validate heirs.
