Webinar Invitation: Gender, Sex, and Societal Norms in 14th-Century Prague
This webinar is part of a series of guest workshops organised by the National Contact Centre for Gender & Science (Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences) given by international experts intended to mainstream gender dimension in research and bring best practices and interesting examples into the Czech scientific context. The primary target groups are experts and scientists within the particular field. However, the lecture is open to anyone beyond the field of medieval studies, offering inspiration on how to incorporate the gender dimension into historical research.
When: 25. 6. 2025, 15:00-16:00 CET
Where: The interactive webinar will take place online. You will be sent a Zoom invitation before the event. Registration will close on the 23th of June.
When we talk about sex- and gender-sensitive research, most researchers assume it is sufficient to report how many men and women have participated in a study. While this is an important first step, truly sex- and gender-sensitive research goes much further.
Dr. Eleanor Janega specialises in sexuality, propaganda, apocalypticism, urbanity, and empire in the late medieval and early modern periods, with a particular emphasis on Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire. Dr. Janega’s current research focuses on the conceptualisation of sex and its influence on society in the medieval and early modern period. She holds a PhD in History and an MA in Medieval Studies from University College London, and a BA in History from Loyola University Chicago. She also hosts a podcast “Gone Medieval”.
This lecture will focus on gender, sexuality, and societal expectations in 14th-century Prague. We will explore the philosophical foundations of medieval gender norms and examine specific cases of sexual behavior and their consequences during this period. Drawing on Dr. Janega’s expertise and research—particularly from her latest book The Once and Future Sex, in which she unravels the restrictive expectations placed on medieval women—she will highlight how gender shaped the treatment of men and women within the community, revealing complex and often unequal dynamics.
The lecture is open to anyone yet mainly to those focusing on medieval studies or other historical periods as it may serve as an inspiration on how to incorporate gender dimension in research content into historical analyses.
Speaker’s bio
Dr. Eleanor Janega is a historian of the late medieval and early modern periods, with research interests centered on sexuality, propaganda, apocalypticism, urban life, and imperial structures. Her work interrogates the ways historical narratives are constructed and how they continue to shape contemporary cultural and social assumptions. Her research critically examines how medieval societies constructed and regulated gender roles, sexuality, and the female body, and how these narratives continue to inform contemporary understandings of gender.
She is the author of The Once and Future Sex, which critically examines the gendered expectations of women in medieval society, and The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, noted for its clarity and accessibility. Dr Janega first gained public recognition through her widely read blog Going Medieval and has since become a prominent public intellectual in historical scholarship. She co-hosts the podcasts Gone Medieval and We’re Not So Different, and regularly contributes to HistoryHit TV and leading media outlets. Originally from Tacoma, Washington, she is currently based in London.
If you have any questions related to this event, please contact [email protected].
This event is supported by the CZERA shared activities project funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (identification code MS2103).