The Once and Future Sex

In this engaging exploration, medievalist Eleanor Janega delves into historical perspectives on women's beauty, sexuality, and behavior during the Middle Ages, a period that connects ancient and modern society. She examines how medieval thinkers’ ideas about women, shaped by classical and Christian influences, have influenced perceptions of femininity—from ideals of beauty to stereotypes of sinfulness. Janega also draws connections between medieval expectations and contemporary views, raising questions about how we might reimagine these notions for a more equitable future.