Looking at the record of human intelligence, that is, the history of human invention, two points are obvious: first, human beings are an innovative race, we can solve almost all problems, and we can invent new problems for ourselves when we are bored; Second, invention is actually a way of investigating society, which is very interesting-by granting patents to human society and using things that have been used to this day, we can deeply understand the technical level at that time and what people value and think needs improvement and help. The continuous improvement of an invention can sometimes bring extraordinary effects and sometimes reveal people's terrible thoughts, which is related to how to treat people, especially women.
In a word, the invention of real sexism is not as simple as it seems. Anti-feminist products often have a more complicated history. A corset is an example. It's not that men force women to be inferior to themselves, but that women themselves are generally willing to wear such complicated clothes (note that women may also treat themselves in a sexist way). Other products, especially those in the cosmetics industry, are not sexist in themselves, nor do they suppress women's characteristics, but are only in the marketing stage. These situations are a bit complicated. However, some inventions are irrefutable, and that is naked and serious gender discrimination. So when celebrating the National Inventor Month, please remember that innovation is a double-edged sword, which can be good or evil.
Sniffing salt for hysterical women
Image source: Margaret Gerard (French painter and etcher from18 to 19).
The concept of olfactory salt was first put forward by the ancient Greeks, aiming at awakening people who were unconscious or fainted after operation, but the essence of its effective components did not appear in Europe until the17th century, because people discovered the method of extracting ammonia from antlers at that time. /kloc-in the 0/9th century, smelling salt became a necessary carry-on item for all women in the world, because of a very strange theory that the uterus would wander around. The awakening mechanism is that ammonia gas released by olfactory salt will stimulate the mucosa of human respiratory organs (nose, lungs, etc.). ), will aggravate the breathing movement, make people awake. /kloc-in the 0 th and 7 th centuries, people distilled ammonia solution from antlers, so the smelling salt is also called "antlers wine".
This theory holds that women are naturally willful and not healthier than men, and explains that this is partly because women's uterus will wander freely in the body.
Arete Uus, an ancient Greek physician, explained it this way: "The uterus is very much like an animal independent of the female body, because it will wander around the body at its own pace, and its whereabouts are uncertain. In addition, the uterus also loves fragrance and hates odor. Will tend to the former and stay away from the latter. "
However, in the19th century, although the concept of "wandering uterus" is a bit outdated, it still seems to induce people to think that women are psychologically fragile, so they will faint when they are in a mood or encounter scary things. At this time, they need a strong dose of smelling salt to calm their mood (more primitive way is to put the uterus back). The wandering uterus was initially thought to be the cause of "hysteria", and this complaint about women is well known. In the19th century, the doctor's favorite diagnosis is "hysteria", which is suitable for women who are troubled by any kind of neurological problems. If women don't carry smelling salts with them, they are easily influenced by their fragile psychology and weak constitution.
Soaking chair and bitch pliers
Image source: William Andrews
The starting point of these two jaw-dropping inventions is the appalling concept of sexism. Especially in Britain in16th century and17th century, "swearing all over the street, bitching and cursing the street", that is, women who quarrel loudly and argue easily, are not accepted by society and are also regarded as dangerous elements. In order to restrain the bitch in the street, people use two punishment methods: immersion in the river and pliers.
Bitch pliers
At that time, the instruments of torture known as "immersion chair" were more widely used than bitch tongs and were officially recognized. The woman on trial will be tied to a chair and gradually immersed in water, repeated several times. This kind of torture is usually carried out in local rivers or streams. Soaking chairs is to humiliate and intimidate women and make them feel embarrassed, because clothes will stick to their bodies after being soaked. Bitch's jaws are undoubtedly more vicious. This kind of torture device is sometimes called oral forceps, which is used to completely encircle the head of the high-pitched street bitch from the body, so that they can't speak (oral forceps specially designed for witches will also pierce the tongue). The woman with pliers had to March in the street so that everyone could see that she was receiving this shameful punishment.
Iron spider
Creepy breast forceps: used to tear off the breasts of women accused of adultery and unauthorized abortion.
Breast forceps are one of the most horrible instruments of torture in history. Compared with other similar instruments of torture, breast forceps are unique in that they are specially made for women.
Iron spider, that is, breast forceps, was invented in Germany in the late17th century and was specially used on the breasts of punished women. Its usage includes clamping, twisting, pulling and even pulling off the whole breast, which is extremely cruel.
Iron spiders are also used to "mark" or torture people, especially unmarried mothers. According to records, hot and cold iron spiders have been used to torture women who commit paganism, witchcraft and abortion. This appalling torture is often carried out in public, which makes it even more inhuman.
Beauty micrometer
1934, Mr. Max Facht and his beautiful micrometer.
1932 The Max Facht brand "beauty micrometer" invented in the United States seems completely harmless compared with breast forceps and oral forceps, but it is actually meaningless. A beauty micrometer, like a bitch pliers, is a huge earphone. Only pliers are used to prohibit women from talking, while beauty micrometer is a "flaw detector". Max Facht claims that it can detect as many as 325 different defects on women's faces, thus helping makeup artists to correct these defects with makeup.
The advertisement of beauty micrometer explains as follows: "The metal bar on this equipment is fixed with screws, and there are 325 adjustment methods. For example, the subject's nose is slightly crooked and slightly deformed, and the general observation can't see the problem, but the beauty micrometer can detect this defect immediately, and then the experienced operator will correct it with makeup. "
Needle in the movie Hellboy
It can be said that this calibrator expresses the most uncomfortable aesthetic standard that imprisons women in history. Is there a beauty calibrator specially designed for men? It doesn't matter how a man has defects, but a woman must put on electrical appliances and become a Pinhead in the movie "Hellraiser" to "correct" her own defects.