Are “Old Wives' Tales” Justified?

Traditional women's beliefs—about childbearing and rearing, herbal medicines, the secrets of good cooking, and such ¹ —are generally characterized as “old wives’ tales.” These “tales” may be interwoven into the very fabric of our daily lives and may even enjoy a certain amount of respect and deference as a useful secret-sharing among women. But nevertheless, it remains the case that they are considered to be mere tales or unscientific hearsay and fail to get accorded the honorific status of knowledge.