The Once and Future Sex

Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society

By: Eleanor Janega

Narrated by: Samara Naeymi

A vibrant and illuminating exploration of medieval thinking on women's beauty, sexuality, and behavior.

What makes for the ideal woman? How should she look, love, and be? In this high-spirited history, medievalist Eleanor Janega turns to the Middle Ages, the era that bridged the ancient world and modern society, to unfurl its suppositions about women and reveal what's shifted over time—and what hasn't.

Enshrined medieval thinkers, almost always male, subscribed to a blend of classical Greek and Roman philosophy and Christian theology for their concepts of the sexes. For the height of female attractiveness, they chose the mythical Helen of Troy, whose imagined pear shape, small breasts, and golden hair served as beauty's epitome. Casting Eve's shadow over medieval women, they derided them as oversexed sinners, inherently lustful, insatiable, and weak. And, unless a nun, a woman was to be the embodiment of perfect motherhood.

In The Once and Future Sex, Janega unravels the restricting expectations on medieval women and the ones on women today. She boldly questions why, if our ideas of women have changed drastically over time, we cannot reimagine them now to create a more equitable future.

©2023 Eleanor Janega (P)2023 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

So enlightening and validating

I must admit that Eleanor Janega is absolutely my historian crush. She’s amazing and so witty as well as brilliant. This book is no exception. She both educates and entertains in her explanations of sex, gender roles and how women were perceived then and now. Being a historian myself, I was familiar with the subject matter, but still learned so many new things and details that I found fascinating.

A complex and important history

Dr Janega always delivers written or verbal information with a style that is never dull!

Medieval views (prejudiced) of women, many from monks and priests, are very much alive today.

As a 60+ man I liked to think that the place of women in our society has improved tremendously since Medieval times. Dr Janega let’s us know that this isn’t necessarily true and how women are viewed by some have deep roots.

Great reading too!

Definitely recommended.

Fascinating and educational

This is one that I didn’t want to end. There is so much not taught to us or considered general knowledge when it comes to women of the past, especially medieval. We have more in common than we think. We also have a long way to go in respecting roles of women in the past and today.

The academic perspective

This book is a wonder addition to Womens history on topics that we do not often discuss. I can only complain that it is too short.

Learned a lot. Enjoyed doing it

Well structured. Well researched. Well written. None of this was covered in the medieval history curriculum at school! Excellent narration.

Fantastically entertaining and enlightening

I discovered Dr. Janega through her History Hit videos and have always appreciated her ability to not just explain history but also make it relevant to the present

This book takes it to the next level. It’s full of wonderful insights and is a great read from start to finish

Feminism strikes back

I particularly respect the feminist analystst of women's historical place and why we are still stuck there. its infuriating but also a base to relaunch my efforts.

An absolute delight!

I yearn to push this wonderful book into the hands of every fan of history, fantasy genre fiction, and anyone the least bit interested in the presence of women in religious and daily life in Europe’s past. It could only have been better if Dr. Janega had narrated it herself, but hey, there’s always the We’re Not So Different podcast! (Also Samara Naeymi is great! I just already loved Eleanor Janega’s delivery and voice before preordering this.)

Love dr. Janega!

Found her videos on youtube. So happy to learn more about medieval times and how backwards our views are about women from then

I love Eleanor Janega!

Found this book from the History Hit Network. I love Janega’s work. I’m very impressed but this book and the way she has presented her conclusions. Definitely worth the read!