The Innovation Show Elise Loehnen - On Our Best Behaviour
13 snips
Aug 12, 2025 
Elise Loehnen, author of "On Our Best Behaviour," discusses how societal pressures shape women’s behaviors through the lens of the seven deadly sins. She shares her personal struggles, critiques the idea of perfection, and highlights the importance of embracing both masculine and feminine energies. The conversation delves into the complexities of envy, portraying it as a guide towards unfulfilled desires. Additionally, Elise explores the impact of historical narratives and gender dynamics, advocating for authenticity and emotional expression in both personal and professional spheres.
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How The 'Sins' Became Gendered
- The seven deadly sins evolved from a 4th-century ascetic list and were later attached to Mary Magdalene by Pope Gregory I in 590.
- This historical framing helped cast women as carriers of vice and shaped cultural repression.
Witch Hunts' Cultural Aftershock
- Loehnen described European witch hunts that killed tens of thousands, mostly older women, as a pointed attack on exceptional women.
- She argues that the trauma from those hunts left cultural sediment causing present-day wariness and women-on-women policing.
Let Others Do The Work
- Slow down and stop proving your utility as the sole route to belonging; let others take on tasks to redistribute responsibility.
- Create contingencies so partners share household roles and you stop anchoring your identity to being indispensable.
