The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife

Join Ehris and Velya from Grounded Goodwife to discover what life was really like for New England’s colonial women – because we’ve always been curious about: menstruation, sex, birth control, childbirth, sickness, and medicine.

For instance…

In an era when underwear hadn’t been invented, what did women in colonial America do when they had their periods?

What were early American birth control methods?

The Not-So-Good Life of The Colonial Goodwife makes audiences laugh and grimace. We never expect to laugh at historical presentations, but laughter is one of the most important things in communication. Laughter is good for us physically, but that’s just the beginning. Laughter brings us closer to each other, especially when it occurs spontaneously and unexpectedly. It catches us by surprise and we respond with laughter. Laughing triggers the brain’s reward centers, releasing dopamine, which helps the brain experience pleasure.

The presentation also honors our foremothers. It’s not about quilting bees and spinning wheels – it’s a virtual presentation about the little-known issues faced by New England’s colonial women.