Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society What Made You Ugly In Medieval Times?
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May 9, 2025 Eleanor Janega, a historian and author known for her expertise in medieval history, joins the host for a playful exploration of medieval beauty standards. They discuss how societal norms tied beauty to virtue, the surprising skincare routines of the time, and how the Black Death shifted fashion. The conversation humorously navigates the standards of male attractiveness and challenges faced by women, revealed through intriguing anecdotes. Plus, they touch on the social implications of ugliness and the myths surrounding dental health in the medieval era.
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Medieval Beauty Was Spiritual
- Medieval beauty standards focused on spiritual purity reflected as physical beauty and innocence.
- Beauty was linked with holiness but also suspicion, as hot women were sometimes feared or seen as sinful.
No-Makeup Makeup Ideal
- Medieval ideal women were beautiful but had to appear unmade-up and innocent.
- True beauty meant natural features, like blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and no visible makeup.
Demons Punish Eyebrow Pluckers
- A monk's vision punished a woman in hell for plucking her eyebrows, with demons gnawing at those areas.
- This story illustrates the medieval belief that altering natural beauty with makeup was sinful and punishable.