What did it mean to be a girl in the past? What roles, expectations, and education would you receive? It all really depends on when and where you lived, as well as your parents' status. You might work in a 19th century textile mill, help in the farm in Ancient Greece, or maybe learn how to be a future lady of a manor in the Middle Ages. Girls in the past often faced more rules, restrictions, and limitations than their male counterparts, but that doesn't mean that was always the case, or that people did not find ways to subvert expectations. This week, we talk about everything from Spartan girls learning to wield weapons, to Victorian girls attending public schools for the first time. Let's see where our ideas of girls and girlhood come from, and how this has built the world we know today.

TW: discussion of child marriage

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toddlerhood is a dangerous time, when a young child's immune system encounters all sorts of illnesses for the first time. In the past, this resulted in a high child mortality rate, despite the best efforts of parents and doctors to keep children healthy. But, with the creation of vaccines, children were able to be protected from diseases like smallpox and polio. How did people deal with these illnesses, when and how were vaccines developed, and how were they distributed? And, what has that meant for vulnerable young children and their families? Find out this week as we interview Adriana, a specialist in infectious disease!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Babies don't come with instruction manuals, but societies have always developed rituals and traditions for welcoming (or not welcoming) a new baby. This week we discuss the way infants have been viewed in their societies, from disposable to invaluable. How were newborns and babies taken care of, fed, clothed, and named? And how did they interact with their surroundings? Find out this week as Sonya and Margot talk about the history of babies!

TW: discussions of historical infant exposure/infanticide

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Childbirth is both physically dangerous and emotionally draining. How do people get through this process as safely and comfortably as possible, and how did people approach this task in the past? In this week's episode, we interview Margaret, a midwife, about all the trials and challenges of childbirth! We discuss the dangers, the safety strategies, and much more as we look into how we come into this world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the premodern world, married women could expect to get pregnant every 2-3 years. How did they cope with such frequent pregnancies, and what did they do to keep themselves healthy? What kinds of foods, drinks, and activities were allowed or forbidden? And when did pregnancy go from being a regular part of life to being seen as a special time? We discuss all this and more on this week's episode!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes getting pregnancy happens unexpectedly, and other times it takes time and fertility treatments. How did people in the past understand pregnancy, fertility, and infertility? What kinds of remedies did they use to aid in conception? And why did people have so many kids anyway? This week, we bust some myths, discuss some rituals, and talk about the ins and outs of getting pregnant in history!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margot gives the latest updates on the project and season 2!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final episode of season 1! Thank you for coming on this journey through the ritualized year with us. This week, Margot and Sonya discuss the big themes of the podcast: the cycles of the seasons, the passing of time, and how folklore and history factor in. We also talk about how to move forward and take these ideas into the future. We hope you've had a great year with us, and we can't wait to explore more in Season 2!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the history of May Day? And how did the labour movement change from the nineteenth century until now? This week, Sonya and Margot interview David Tough, PhD and Godefroy Desrosiers-Lauzon, PhD about the histories of these movements in both the USA and Canada. We talk precarious employment, labour rights, and solidarity!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.