Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society The Truth About Mythical Women
Dec 2, 2025
Historian Janina Ramirez, author of 'Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe,' dives into the intriguing intersection of mythical women and national identities. She explores how these figures shape perceptions despite historical women's exclusion from nation-building. Janina traces the real story of Lady Godiva, revealing the invention of her naked ride myth and discusses modern nostalgic narratives around women. From Lola Montez's disruptive influence to contemporary heroines resisting simplistic icons, the conversation is rich with insights into women's complex roles in history.
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Myths Build Nations
- Myths are central to nation-building because they create an idealised past that people rally around.
- Women feature as symbolic nations despite being excluded from actual nation-creating processes.
Woman As Nation Icon
- Female figures personify nations (e.g., Britannia, Marianne) even though women lacked roles in early nation construction.
- National icons mask the absence of women from the actual political tables that designed nations.
Exclusion In Founding Texts
- Revolutionary-era nation documents explicitly excluded women, prompting dangerous pushbacks when women protested.
- Olympe de Gouges' Declaration of the Rights of Woman led to her execution as a warning.
