Century Quote by Barbara Tuchman
“No female iniquity was more severely condemned than the habit of plucking eyebrows and the hairline to heighten the forehead.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Renaissance and the Reformation, Barbara Tuchman, 1995
The quote criticizes the extreme social pressure on women to alter their appearance, equating it with a severe moral failing.
In simple terms: Societal pressure on women's appearance is harshly condemned.
Key Takeaway
Challenge oppressive beauty standards.
Themes
gender
beauty standards
social pressure
history
feminism
Mood
critical
analytical
empathetic
Type
historical
feminist
When to use this quote
- fashion industry
- social media
- workplace expectations
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
body autonomy
historical critique
gender norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern beauty standards compare?
- What can be done to reduce appearance-based pressure?
A Different Perspective
It may generalize across cultures and eras.
![“No female iniquity was more severely condemned [in the 14th century] than the habit of plucking eyebrows and the hairline to heighten the forehead.” quote by Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f70/barbara-tuchman-3945_century_no-female-iniquity-was-more-severely-con_2157295.jpg)
![“But when my grandmother saw me plucking [my eyebrows] she said: 'Don't. You will regret it. One day you will wake up with no eyebrows and think how stupid you were. Your eyebrows are the most beautiful thing about you.'” quote by Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/721/natalia-vodianova-14693_beautiful_but-when-my-grandmother-saw-me-plucking_2770195.jpg)
![“The clergy [in the 14th century] on the whole were probably no more lecherous or greedy or untrustworthy than other men, but because they were supposed to be better or nearer to God than other men, their failings attracted more attention.” quote by Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/558/barbara-tuchman-3945_attention_the-clergy-in-the-14th-century-on-the-wh_159681.jpg)
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
