Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Episode: The Power of Medieval Gossip
Host: Kate Lister
Release Date: July 8, 2025
Introduction to Medieval Gossip
In this episode of Betwixt The Sheets, host Kate Lister delves into the intricate world of medieval gossip, exploring its profound impact on society, gender dynamics, and power structures during the Middle Ages. Joined by Eleanor Yarniger, co-host of the sister podcast Gone Medieval, Kate unpacks how gossip served not just as idle chatter but as a powerful tool for social cohesion and control.
The Role of Gossip in Medieval Society
Kate sets the stage by highlighting the ubiquitous nature of gossip in medieval times. She explains how communal activities, such as sewing and spinning circles, were prime settings for women to exchange information and secrets.
Kate Lister [04:00]: "In this episode we are gonna have a good old gossip about women gossiping about gossip in the past."
Dunbar's Gossip Theory and Social Cohesion
Eleanor introduces Dunbar's Gossip Theory, drawing parallels between primate social grooming and human gossip. She elaborates on how gossip evolved as a means to maintain group cohesion beyond the physical limits of grooming.
Eleanor Yarniger [08:15]: "Gossip is a way of social grooming, allowing larger groups to maintain cohesion by sharing information about group members."
This theory posits that gossip enables individuals to navigate social hierarchies, establish trust, and reinforce community bonds, making it an essential aspect of medieval social life.
Gendered Perspectives on Gossip
A central theme of the episode is the gendered perception of gossip. Kate and Eleanor discuss how, historically, gossip has been predominantly associated with women, often carrying a negative connotation.
Kate Lister [13:27]: "Women do gossip more than men. Men are shit at gossiping. Maybe they're just sneakier."
Eleanor counters by emphasizing that men also engage in gossip, but societal norms have deemed women's gossip as trivial or malicious, whereas men's gossip can be seen as legitimate information sharing.
Historical Punishments for Gossiping
The conversation shifts to the severe repercussions faced by those who gossiped, especially women. Eleanor recounts historical punishments such as the ducking stool and public shaming devices like skull masks, which were predominantly used against women accused of excessive talking or witchcraft.
Eleanor Yarniger [28:33]: "These women who are scolds, women who are gossips, they get waterboarded, essentially, as a form of punishment."
Kate adds that such punishments reinforced societal hierarchies and silenced women, ensuring that gossip remained a controlled and often penalized activity.
Kate Lister [29:15]: "The ducking stool and the skull's bridal thing were early modern."
Reputation and Social Hierarchies
Reputation, or "fama" in Latin, was paramount in medieval society. Both hosts discuss how gossip could either bolster or ruin one's reputation, directly affecting their social and economic prospects. Eleanor explains that in a world without modern communication tools, word-of-mouth was crucial for business and personal dealings.
Eleanor Yarniger [10:28]: "Your reputation is conceived of as an object that can be damaged by what others say about you."
This emphasis on reputation made gossip a powerful tool for both social bonding and social control.
Women's Social Restrictions and Gossip
Kate and Eleanor explore how women's limited roles in public spheres pushed them towards gossip as a primary means of social interaction. Eleanor highlights that post-Enlightenment societal shifts confined women more strictly to domestic roles, making gossip one of the few outlets for expression and connection.
Eleanor Yarniger [30:55]: "Women have been essentially now forced out of public. Medieval women are in public all the time, but post-Enlightenment, ladies live in the house."
Gossip as Soft Power
The hosts discuss the concept of gossip as a form of soft power, allowing women to influence social dynamics subtly. Kate brings up examples from literature, such as Jane Austen's novels, to illustrate how gossip functions as a narrative device to convey deeper social tensions and power plays.
Kate Lister [29:49]: "Gossip is a form of soft power, which is why it was associated with women a lot more."
Eleanor adds that this "soft power" can undermine male authority by spreading information that could destabilize social hierarchies.
Eleanor Yarniger [20:43]: "The information they carry has the power to damage reputations and shift power balances."
Tips for Responsible Gossiping
As the episode nears its conclusion, Kate and Eleanor offer practical advice on how to engage in gossip responsibly to avoid legal and social repercussions. They emphasize the importance of discretion and the potential dangers of written or recorded gossip in the digital age.
Eleanor Yarniger [35:34]: "Don't put it in writing. It will come back to haunt you."
Kate concurs, highlighting that handling gossip face-to-face remains the safest method.
Kate Lister [35:36]: "If you put gossip in writing, it's no longer gossip."
Conclusion
Kate wraps up the episode by reinforcing the enduring power of gossip and its deep-rooted connections to social structures and gender dynamics.
Kate Lister [35:57]: "You need to know who your gossiping buddies are because there's like buddies that you will just spill everything, but you're actually relatively confident that they're not going to go."
The episode concludes with reflections on how understanding the historical context of gossip can shed light on present-day social interactions and gender relations.
Notable Quotes
- Kate Lister [04:00]: "In this episode we are gonna have a good old gossip about women gossiping about gossip in the past."
- Eleanor Yarniger [08:15]: "Gossip is a way of social grooming, allowing larger groups to maintain cohesion by sharing information about group members."
- Kate Lister [13:27]: "Women do gossip more than men. Men are shit at gossiping. Maybe they're just sneakier."
- Eleanor Yarniger [28:33]: "These women who are scolds, women who are gossips, they get waterboarded, essentially, as a form of punishment."
- Andrew Yarniger [10:28]: "Your reputation is conceived of as an object that can be damaged by what others say about you."
- Eleanor Yarniger [20:43]: "The information they carry has the power to damage reputations and shift power balances."
- Eleanor Yarniger [35:34]: "Don't put it in writing. It will come back to haunt you."
- Kate Lister [35:36]: "If you put gossip in writing, it's no longer gossip."
Final Thoughts
This episode provides a compelling exploration of medieval gossip, revealing its multifaceted role in shaping social hierarchies, gender relations, and community cohesion. Through engaging dialogue and insightful analysis, Kate Lister and Eleanor Yarniger offer listeners a nuanced understanding of how gossip has been both a tool for connection and a means of social control throughout history.
For more episodes exploring the intertwining of history, sex, and societal norms, subscribe to Betwixt The Sheets on your favorite podcast platform. Join Kate and Eleanor as they continue to uncover the scandalous and intimate stories that have shaped our world.