Debunking Outlandish Myths About the Female Body Perpetuated by Men

Debunking Outlandish Myths About the Female Body Perpetuated by Men

We often laugh at the notion of a ‘Flat Earth Society,’ knowing that such beliefs were prevalent centuries ago. Today, we understand that leeches and bloodletting are ineffective against infections, the philosopher’s stone is a myth, and smoking is hazardous to health. Some of the most bizarre beliefs, however, have revolved around the female body. While science has yet to uncover all the mysteries of the universe, it has definitively debunked these theories:

Menstruating Women Can Kill a Swarm of Bees

Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman philosopher and naturalist, compiled an encyclopedia titled ‘Natural History.’ He dedicated an entire section to the powers women allegedly possess during menstruation. According to Pliny, a menstruating woman was a force to be reckoned with. She could curse plants, dull mirrors, drive dogs mad, and kill bees. Iron would rust, ivory would lose its luster, and steel blades would blunt in her presence. If menstrual blood were struck by lightning, the resulting power could supposedly halt a storm.

Women Have Fewer Teeth Than Men

Aristotle believed that women were incomplete versions of men, placing them just above slaves in his hierarchy. He even claimed that women had fewer teeth than men as proof of their inferiority. Aristotle asserted that men were superior due to their ‘intellectual virtue,’ and women were inferior both physically and intellectually.

The Wandering Womb

Hippocrates is responsible for the myths surrounding ‘hysteria’ caused by a wandering womb. Ancient Greeks attributed all mental and physical ailments in women to this single organ. Another philosopher, Aretaeus, described the womb as ‘an animal that moves hither and thither.’ Even after advancements in understanding human anatomy, hysteria continued to be recognized as a legitimate diagnosis.

Women Lack Sexual Desires

During the Victorian era, sex was so taboo that it was considered a mechanical process necessary for survival. Women were expected to endure sex rather than enjoy it. Sexual impulses were to be suppressed, leading women to seek medical help for ‘hysteria.’ Symptoms included erotic fantasies, increased irritability, and vaginal lubrication. Doctors manually stimulated the clitoris to induce ‘paroxysm,’ which eventually led to the invention of the vibrator. However, no one acknowledged that women had sexual needs or that doctors were merely helping them achieve orgasm.

Masturbation Shrinks Breasts

Today, the idea that masturbation causes hair to grow on the hands seems ludicrous. Yet, during the Victorian era, people believed that self-pleasure was not only immoral but also led to developmental delays, such as flat-chested girls. The myths surrounding masturbation were so strong that parents tried to prevent their children from touching their genitals.

Reading Makes Women Infertile

Edward Clarke, a Harvard professor, wrote an entire book arguing that while women could study exact sciences, doing so would lead to infertility and irritability. Clarke recommended limiting girls’ education to preserve their health. Fortunately, well-educated women disproved his theories.

Looking at Ugly Things During Pregnancy Makes the Baby Ugly

In the 18th century, it was believed that a woman’s thoughts influenced her fetus’s development. Deformities were attributed to ‘unhealthy’ thoughts. Therefore, women were advised to avoid ‘unwholesome’ things to prevent developmental deformities.

Menstruating Women Are Unclean

According to the Book of Leviticus in the Bible, not only was a menstruating woman considered unclean, but so were her belongings and anything she touched. In the 13th century, the monk Albertus Magnus wrote that menstrual substances were extremely poisonous and that the vapors from a woman could poison children. These ideas persisted throughout the last century and can still be found in some traditional Muslim families.

Women Can Only Get Pregnant If They Want To

This myth is particularly dangerous because some people still believe it. In 2012, Missouri Congressman Todd Akin claimed that rape victims could not get pregnant because the female body has ways to ‘shut that whole thing down.’ Akin is not the only modern politician with such views. North Carolina Representative Henry Aldridge believes that a woman cannot get pregnant without vaginal lubrication. In 1998, a U.S. Senate candidate stated that the stress of an attack would cause a biochemical response preventing conception.

Tampons Cause Loss of Virginity

When Tampax introduced its product in the 1930s, many believed that young girls should not use them for fear of losing their virginity. Numerous instructions and explanations were issued to clarify that only actual sex could cause the loss of virginity.

Virgins Can Cure Venereal Diseases

This monstrous myth led to the abuse of young girls for centuries. The pure and untouched state of a virgin was believed to restore a man’s body. Men who sought out girls for these ‘healing’ purposes thought that the disease would transfer from them to the girl, intentionally infecting them.

For further reading on historical misconceptions, you can explore this resource on Victorian-era sex myths.