Queen Catherine Howard, guide to all things sex for Tudor women, discusses societal expectations and challenges faced by Tudor women, including double standards, harassment, and consequences for servants. The chapter explores power imbalances, sexual assault, and unwed mothers in Tudor society. It also delves into courtly love, scandalous affairs, and the church's view on sex during the Tudor era.
Tudor society values female virtue and modesty, condemning any transgressions with ruinous consequences.
Contradictory views on female sexuality in Tudor society expect women to be chaste yet sexually pleasing to their husbands, with birth control methods commonly used despite being condemned.
Engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage or committing adultery is a serious offense in Tudor society, with women facing harsher consequences including public humiliation, exile, and death.
Deep dives
Catherine Howard's Rise and Fall
Catherine Howard, once a beloved wife of King Henry, finds herself stripped of her title and sentenced to die. Tudor society's obsession with and fear of female sexuality is explored as Catherine navigates the expectations and dangers of being a Tudor queen.
The Rules of Tudor Modesty
Tudor society places high value on female virtue and modesty. Women are expected to remain chaste until marriage, with any transgressions leading to ruinous consequences. The Church and society enforce strict rules about sexual behavior, with abstinence and virginity highly praised.
Sex, Marriage, and Reproduction in Tudor Times
Sex within marriage is encouraged for procreation purposes. Tudor society holds contradictory views on female sexuality, with expectations for women to be both chaste and sexually pleasing to their husbands. Birth control methods, despite being condemned by the Church, are commonly used.
Consequences of Sexual Misconduct
Engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage, committing adultery, or engaging in premarital sex are considered serious offenses in Tudor society. Punishments include public humiliation, exile, and even death. Women face harsher consequences than men, being judged and condemned for their perceived immorality.
Catherine Howard's Downfall
Catherine's dalliances and affairs ultimately lead to her downfall. Accused of treason, Catherine is imprisoned, loses her title as queen, and is ultimately beheaded. Her scandalous past and sexual behavior become liabilities that threaten her reputation, the monarchy, and the country.
In this episode, Queen Catherine Howard is going to be our guide as we explore all things sex for Tudor women. We’ll walk through the era’s expectations and understanding of a woman’s virtue, how a lady might keep from getting pregnant should she choose to risk her reputation, and what happens if a woman gets pregnant out of wedlock. It’s bound to be steamy, and…let’s be honest…possibly dire.
For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.
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