What happens when myths become pseudo-facts? How often does something need to be repeated for it to be considered as real? How do we differentiate tall tales from what is actually true? We currently have an avalanche of information waiting for us to search for the correct keyword or click on the right page. Yet, it seems that we’re living a reality where even our more trusted source can be proven wrong or mistaken. It’s up to us to continue digging to find out what is actually happening or driving this information. Case in point: chastity belts.
Films and literature have perpetuated the stories of medieval men leaving their wives for months or years because of war and invasions. Before they parted, they’d use a sort of metal contraption to lock up their lady’s vaginal area to ensure fidelity. It sounds incredibly uncomfortable, depressing, impractical, unhygienic, misogynistic, and ridiculous. And the worst part? We actually believed it to be true.
While the term “chastity belt” does have a tendency of appearing on several texts from the middle ages, it’s believed to be meant in a figurative rather than literal sense. It symbolized purity and commitment to the faith. Yet these references appear to only reinforce the tall tales. So what about the actual chastity belts that have inspired the ones that are shown in films and TV shows about medieval noblewomen or dystopian societies? Well, there is a physical evidence, but it all point to a great big hoax.
According to Linda Migl Keyser in her essay, “The Medieval Chastity Belt Unbuckled,” the reason we all bought the lie was because of some particular artifacts that were claimed as chastity girdles, as well as due to John Dingwall, an early twentieth century anthropologist. This researcher wrote an entire book about these contraptions and their use in the dark ages. Yet there was a fault in his hypothesis. He based his ideas on the tale of “Guigemar” by twelfth century poet Marie de France. In the story, two lovers, who cannot be together, protect their genitals to avoid ever being with other people.
While it’s a stretch to go from protecting your genitals to locking them up with a lock and key, archaeologists in the nineteenth century found apparent relics of these medieval devices that made it all sound very plausible. The issue is that the more research is done, the more conclusions are done that these contraptions where fake. Some claim that they were created as propaganda from the Renaissance to mock the medieval population as barbaric. Other historians point the finger to the Victorians who “found” them. The more research is done, the more likely it seems that the concept was made real as a way to make fun of the primitive people of the Crusades or to taunt women. After all, nineteenth century men could tell their wives about this horrible method that was once used to ensure women were loyal to their husbands.
Whatever the case, in 1996 the British Museum started the shift when it took an alleged chastity belt off display, since they were able to prove it had been made in the previous century. This began a process of double checking that resulted in several other institutions taking down these artifacts. Has our perception on the Middle Ages changed? Maybe a little. What has shifted more is what we think about our Victorians, as well as how science and facts can often be shifted and moved around to present a particular ideology. Everything requires facts that actually back the claims. Just because something sounds plausible, does not necessarily make it so. We are all responsible for the information we believe, as well as the one we propagate and give to others. It’s not that big of a leap from chastity belts to conspiracy theories. Next time something sounds too good to be true or too simple, make sure you’re not being sold snake oil.
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Sources:
Misconceptions About the Middle Ages, Stephen Harris, Bryon L. Grigsby.
History from Below
Semmelweis Museum
