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Western Civilization II / Unit 5   WC2 0415 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Poulain de la Barre, and How the New Science Reinforced Stereotypes

Captions available

The idea

Poulain de la Barre argued in the sixteen seventies that male dominance was custom and that differences between peoples were cosmetic. The new science went the other way: wider hips as destiny, smaller skulls, midwifery seized by male doctors.

In practice

A pseudo-scientific theory of sexual difference worse than the old one.

Where people slip

The anchor's analysis, attributed.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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