Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Medieval Sex Myths
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Jan 3, 2025 Join Professor Ruth Karras, an expert on medieval sexuality and author of 'Sexuality in Medieval Europe: Doing Unto Others,' as she unpacks the fascinating myths and realities of sex in the Middle Ages. Discover why people believed women were more sexual than men, the surprising aphrodisiacs of the time, and the misunderstandings surrounding STIs. Karras also explores the complex relationship between laundry work and lust, highlighting how independent women navigated societal norms in a male-dominated world.
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Rykener Discovery
- Ruth Karras's research on John/Eleanor Rykener started with a tip from a colleague.
- This colleague, Sheila Lindenbaum, was studying London court records and found Rykener's case.
Medieval Sex
- Medieval views on sex were complex and often contradictory, influenced by the Church but not always followed.
- Sex outside marriage was officially condemned, but sex within marriage for procreation was considered good.
The Heretic
- A medieval monk tells a story of a man seducing a woman.
- When she refuses, citing sin, he denounces her as a heretic for being anti-sex.
