Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

The Invention of Heterosexuality

Sexuality is a funny thing. It's a social construct just as much as, say, virginity is. We use words like heterosexuality and homosexuality because they are convenient, more than because they're wholly accurate. What roots do these words have in 19th century Germany? How did the word 'straight' come from the gay community? And what is the future of sexuality and its terms? Joining Kate today is the fantastic Hanne Blank, author of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Straight-Surprisingly-Short-History-Heterosexuality/dp/0807044598" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality</a>. This episode was edited by Teän Stewart-Murray. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long. Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial <a href="https://historyhit/subscription/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://historyhit/subscription/</a>

Join sex historian Kate Lister on Betwixt the Sheets as she gets intimate with the stories that would make your history teacher blush. What were the Victorians really like behind closed (bedroom) doors? How did the Black Death favour women in medieval England? And what was Caesar like in the sack?  She'll be bed-hopping around different time periods; from ancient civilisations, to the middle ages, to renaissance and early modern...right up to now. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll ask yourself how much has actually changed. So join Kate Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal &amp; Society - a podcast from History Hit.