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Questions and Answers
He believed it was more dangerous to hold in a ______.
He believed it was more dangerous to hold in a ______.
fart
Carrying a handkerchief became essential for controlling the outflow of ______.
Carrying a handkerchief became essential for controlling the outflow of ______.
body fluids
Modern etiquette dictates that a woman should not express her ______ for food to her hostess.
Modern etiquette dictates that a woman should not express her ______ for food to her hostess.
appetite
Table manners are focused on minimizing the functions of the body while ______.
Table manners are focused on minimizing the functions of the body while ______.
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Training children to control their ______ is a significant part of child-rearing.
Training children to control their ______ is a significant part of child-rearing.
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Civilization requires that all of them must be strictly controlled (Pink = Women, Blue = ______)
Civilization requires that all of them must be strictly controlled (Pink = Women, Blue = ______)
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Peasant women of the Middle Ages used scrap rags or bog moss for their ______.
Peasant women of the Middle Ages used scrap rags or bog moss for their ______.
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Many women and men thought a woman's period was due to her body needing to relieve pressure and ______.
Many women and men thought a woman's period was due to her body needing to relieve pressure and ______.
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During Victorian times, intense menstruation was believed to be an ______ that required a woman to faint.
During Victorian times, intense menstruation was believed to be an ______ that required a woman to faint.
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Sex talk often employs ______ such as 'making love' to avoid direct mention of the act.
Sex talk often employs ______ such as 'making love' to avoid direct mention of the act.
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Polite conversations are characterized by making no direct references to any body ______ or products.
Polite conversations are characterized by making no direct references to any body ______ or products.
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A multi-billion-dollar industry exists for the control of body fluids, solids, and ______.
A multi-billion-dollar industry exists for the control of body fluids, solids, and ______.
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Leakage during menstruation was often concealed by the popularity of ______ dresses.
Leakage during menstruation was often concealed by the popularity of ______ dresses.
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In the Middle Ages, sex was often seen with a sense of increasing _____ as society became more civilized.
In the Middle Ages, sex was often seen with a sense of increasing _____ as society became more civilized.
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People in the Middle Ages paid little attention to their bodily _____ and the effects on others.
People in the Middle Ages paid little attention to their bodily _____ and the effects on others.
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Grooming habits were rare among peasant farmers, and they might go months without _____ .
Grooming habits were rare among peasant farmers, and they might go months without _____ .
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Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote one of the first etiquette books, giving advice on the care of body _____ .
Erasmus of Rotterdam wrote one of the first etiquette books, giving advice on the care of body _____ .
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During medieval times, nudity was common particularly among _____ children playing in summer.
During medieval times, nudity was common particularly among _____ children playing in summer.
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The practice of avoiding meaningful contact with others is driven by societal _____ .
The practice of avoiding meaningful contact with others is driven by societal _____ .
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With civilization came the trend towards _____ speech regarding bodily functions.
With civilization came the trend towards _____ speech regarding bodily functions.
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In medieval households, it was common to see couples engage in intimate acts without worrying about who was _____ .
In medieval households, it was common to see couples engage in intimate acts without worrying about who was _____ .
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Study Notes
The Civilizing Process
- Human beings are animals, exhibiting similar bodily functions to other animals
- Civilization is defined by the control we exert over our bodies, achieved through the production of shame
- Young people are socialized from birth to internalize this shame
- Norbert Elias, a sociologist, described the "civilizing process" as a gradual change in the human mindset (habitus) towards shame and disgust regarding bodily functions
- This change has occurred over centuries, particularly intensifying since the Middle Ages
- Violence and blood, sexual activity, death, body functions, and forms of speech were viewed differently in the Middle Ages compared to modern times
Violence and Blood
- In the Middle Ages, seeing blood and violence was a positive sign of victory and power
- Today, the sight of blood is viewed as a sign of danger and is considered a contaminant
- Violence has been transformed from a public, acceptable activity to one that is shameful
Blood
- Blood is now part of our medical and personal identities, marking us with potentially deviant activities (crimes, drug use, disease)
- Blood must be contained and concealed from society, often with immediate action and tools like band-aids
- Menstrual blood is subject to even stricter social controls and regulations
Death and Dying
- Death was a more frequent occurrence in the Middle Ages
- Funeral rituals and practices were developed by families to minimize the visual reminders of death
- Today, death is viewed through a more negative perspective than in the past and rituals to minimize visual reminders of death are present
Body Fluids and Functions
- In the Middle Ages, bodily functions like urination, defecation, and other bodily emissions were widely accepted as natural aspects of life
- The civilizing process has transformed these functions into subjects of shame and disgust that must be concealed
- Modern society has an elaborate system of sanitation, and personal hygiene, to regulate and control these functions
Sex and Nudity
- Sexual activity was more open in the Middle Ages, with limited consideration for privacy
- The civilizing process has led to a more private and regulated view of sexual activity, and to a greater stigma towards public displays of sexuality
Forms of Speech
- Polite conversation often avoids direct reference to bodily functions and focuses on more abstract or less personal concerns
Other
- The civilizing process is a complex trend, involving changing social norms, attitudes towards bodily functions, and ways of communicating and regulating behaviour
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Description
Explore Norbert Elias's concept of the 'civilizing process' and how it reflects the transition of societal norms concerning bodily functions, violence, and shame. This quiz delves into the historical shifts in perceptions from the Middle Ages to modern times, emphasizing how our understanding of the body and emotions has evolved.
