Over time, humans gradually learned about many new diseases, such as chickenpox, smallpox, and cancer. But in the 19th century, a strange and unusual disease emerged in Europe called Bicycle Face. Doctors said that this disease affects only women. But was it really a disease or just a myth? Indeed, with the invention of the bicycle in the West, women began to make significant progress and gain independence. To curtail this freedom, Bicycle Face disease was invented in Western society to prevent women from cycling for fear of contracting it. Let’s know about it…
Let’s find out what Bicycle Face was
Bicycle Face causes women’s eyes to bulge out, their chins become thin and distorted, their faces look tired, their complexion pale, and they look unattractive. In fact, none of these things were true; They were all just rumours. At that time, false reports about the disease were spread to discourage women from cycling. In addition, many doctors claimed that women who ride bicycles lose fertility over time.
Why was this rumor spread?
There were several reasons for this rumor in 19th century Europe. In fact, with the invention of the bicycle, women also started riding it. This gave them a chance to be independent. Along with cycling, women’s independence was also emphasized, and they started moving out of the house. In addition, cycling also brought changes in women’s clothing. They started wearing proper pants and shirts instead of traditional skirts while cycling. Thus, the bicycle was considered a symbol of feminism, a move that defied Victorian norms and advocated for women’s freedom. Therefore, this propaganda was carried out to take away the freedom of women.