Stuff Mom Never Told You

In the third Boys of Summer installment, Cristen and Caroline hat tip JK Starley, the engineer who invented the bicycle as we know it today, and explain how the bicycle was a transportation revolution for women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in the 19th century, women's colleges now dwindle in number and popularity for female scholars. Caroline and Cristen discuss the history of these all-female institutions and the pros and cons of their 21st-century existence. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second "Boys of Summer" episode, Caroline and Cristen discuss the life and legacy of John Rock, a devout Catholic and co-inventor of America's first birth control pill. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A court decision to lift age restrictions on purchasing Plan B emergency contraception set off a firestorm of controversy. Cristen and Caroline talk about what Plan B does and its impacts on young women's sexual health. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Poiret was a French designer credited with unlacing women from corsets. Cristen and Caroline explore the intersection of fashion history, industrialization and gender equality in the first installment of their Boys of Summer series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fitness inspiration, known as fitspo, is supposed to get women exercising, but is it helpful or hurtful for women's body images? Caroline and Cristen assess the health of fitspo and its links to eating disorders and compulsive exercise. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more women are choosing natural childbirth, Caroline and Cristen look into what "natural" actually means and how women deal with the pain of having a baby without meds. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dorothy Parker once wrote that "men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." Cristen and Caroline explore why so many negative stereotypes are attached to women wearing glasses and whether we have hipsters to thank for making glasses cool. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1942, "Now Voyager" starring Bette Davis was Hollywood's first major "magical makeover" movie. Caroline and Cristen explore the intersection of the beauty culture, film history and feminism in "magical makeover" movies deliver and ponder why we love watching them so much. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Chinese children raised with a greater sense of family loyalty than kids in the West? Join Caroline and Cristen as they discuss Eastern parenting practices, the Chinese principle of filial piety and how family devotion affects Chinese kids' success. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women tend to score much lower than men on financial literacy tests. Why? Is money management a man thing? Does financial planning pander to women? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday, Americans will spend more than $16 billion dollars celebrating Mother's Day. Cristen and Caroline discuss why we treat moms to brunch and flowers every second Sunday in May, and why the founder of Mother's Day regretted how popular it became. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is photography still a male-dominated industry? Listen in to learn more about women's roles in the history of photography, including the work of Frances Benjamin Johnston, Margaret Bourke-White, Diane Arbus and other notable female photographers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do redheads have it worst? Listen in to learn more about history's original "dumb blonde" and how yellow hair took on its various meanings -- including how and why hair color colors our perceptions of people. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the scheduling convenience of C-sections outweigh the risks? Join Caroline and Cristen for a brief medical history of C-sections, as well as an exploration of doctors' concerns over the rising rates of the procedure. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Men comprise an estimated 20 percent of anorexics, but many are going untreated. To understand why, it's necessary to explore unraveling sexual orientation, internalized homonegativity and more. Tune in to learn why calling it "manorexia" is problematic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the childhood psychology of stuffed animals and other "transitional objects"? Why do 35 percent of adults still sleep with stuffed animals? Tune in to learn more, including a brief history of the teddy bear and why the stuff possum never caught on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection? What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis, and what prevention methods are available? Join Cristen and Caroline for a quick course in bacterial vaginosis 101. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the nature of gender, masculinity and sexuality in boy band lyrics? What about race and ethnicity in (mostly white) boy bands? Join Cristen and Caroline for a brief history of boy bands, from The Beatles to 1 Direction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was the gendering of the typewriter? How did women take over secretarial work? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn about the history of secretarial work from ancient scribes to the steno pool, along with how to overcome negative secretary stereotypes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does teleworking solve the childcare issue? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the high cost of childcare for working parents & single moms, as well as how workplace childcare improves job satisfaction and business bottom lines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not that there are no women coaching female basketball (consider the legendary Pat Summit and others), but Title IX has more male coaches. Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore homophobia, sexism and the glass wall that coaches often run into. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By age 5, people expect girls to be cleaner than boys. Around the house and at work, men are only slightly less clean than women. Listen in to learn more about the Hygiene Hypothesis, and how being cleaner might not be healthier for women. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has the show affected the co-host's romantic lives? Tune to learn more in the second part of this series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is crying in the workplace such a highly discussed topic for women? Scientifically speaking, prolactin and smaller tear ducts make women more prone to crying. Tune in to learn more, including strategies for managing emotions in the workplace. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is toxic shock syndrome, and what's the risk of contracting it? Why was 1980 the worst year for tampons? Listen in to learn all about toxic shock syndrome (including how to prevent it) in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Stuff Mom Never Told You ever run into taboo topics? Would you like to know more about podcast regret or Caroline's Proust questionnaire? How has the show affected the co-host's romantic lives? Tune to learn the answers to these questions and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are school uniforms the magic bullet for improved learning environments? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore school dress codes, Title IX and the nature of gender identity within school dress code restrictions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will women in combat impact the military? Join Caroline and Cristen as they look at other countries that allow women in combat, outline a brief history of women soldiers and explore the combat exclusion policy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do advice columns dole out good advice? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore how Dear Abby and Ann Landers were rival twin sisters, well as examining Dan Savage and the rise of the sex columnist. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Athenian Mercury was history's first advice column, and since then advice columns have become a staple of modern publishing -- but how? And why are most advice columns written by women? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pole dancing originated in China and India, and took off in strip clubs in the 1980s in Canada. Should it be considered as an Olympic sport? Join Cristen and Caroline as they explore the rising popularity of strippercizing and pole dancing for fitness. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that the EU enforces its ban on animal-tested products in March 2013? Why did mascara kick off animal testing in the U.S.? Why are women more invested in animal rights, compared to men? Join Caroline and Cristen to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vaginoplasty, labiaplasty and vaginal rejuvenation are today's hottest new plastic surgeries. So what does a normal vagina look like? Tune in to learn more about why women get "The Barbie" and other vaginal cosmetic surgeries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is there a lack of qualify film roles for black actresses? Listen in to learn more about Hattie McDaniel, the the first black actress to win an Oscar, as well as more about black women behind the camera directing, screenwriting and producing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is vocal fry and why is everyone talking about it? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore valley girls and uptalk, ultimately asking why younger women are the linguistic trendsetters. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do public displays of affection compare to etiquette-friendly social kissing? How is PDA an act of love - and defiance -- in the LGBT community? And, do you love it or hate it? Listen in to learn how onlookers respond to PDA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the medical community wrongfully exploit the Lacks family? Listen in to learn how John Hopkins Hospital got a hold of Henrietta Lacks' "immortal" HeLa cells, how these cells transformed modern medicine and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the etymology of "tomboy," and how has it evolved from meaning a whiskey-drinking man to a rough-and-tumble girl? Tune in to learn more about pop culture, tomboys, sissies and gender identity in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From ancient Greek stone-lifting to modern-day shake weights, fitness fads have been around for ages. What's the deal with gendered marketing and fitness fads? Listen in to learn why toning sneakers - and other fitness fad products - are completely bogus. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Cristen and Caroline dive into the history of British domestic service as well as race and domestic service in the United States. Tune in to learn more about immigration, exploitation and risky work for domestic service workers today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At what age should a woman first go to the gynecologist? Do women prefer female gynecologists? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explain the Stuff Mom Never Told You about OB-GYN visits. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are so many people drawn to cooking, crafts and lifestyles from a bygone era? How do Etsy, Pinterest and mommy blogs fuel new domesticity? Tune in as Cristen and Caroline interview with Emily Matchar on her book on the new domesticity movement Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When did people start exercising for their health? How were women were responsible for the rise of public gyms and health spas? Listen in to learn more about Jack Lalanne, the Cold War and the Modern Fitness Movement in the United States. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does this muscle-building hormone act in the body? What's the relationship between testosterone and masculinity? Does testosterone fuel aggression, or the other way around? Join Cristen and Caroline to learn more about this oft-misunderstood hormone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people are familiar with the trope of the terrible, no good mother-in-law, and studies confirm often-strained mother-in-law relationships. So does this stereotype have evolutionary roots? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans have made New Year's resolutions for millennia - and had a terrible time sticking to them. So, great expectations aside, why do most resolutions fail? Listen in to learn more about science of willpower and how to stick with resolutions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is food porn unhealthy? Do foodies represent a cultural era of feast or famine? Join Caroline and Cristen as they explore the rise of the foodie and the culinary hipster. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have food morals replaced sexual morals? Do modern humans want pizza and chocolate more than sex? Surveys suggest yes. Listen in to learn more about how food and sex collide in the brain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the deal with virginity auctions? Why is virginity associated with both sacredness and stigma, especially for women? Is virginity a valueless construct rather than an actual physical state? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.