Up Next
Back to Show
Origin of Everything
Why Was It Illegal to be Ugly?
Season 1
Episode 34
For nearly 100 years it was illegal to be “ugly” in America. Of course, “ugly” wasn’t actually about physical attractiveness, it was a way to criminalize disability and disfigurement and it lead to the rise of the freak show. So how did we put an end to these ridiculous laws? Watch the episode to find out.
Support Provided By
9:38
What is culture? Can it even be appropriated?
8:24
Why Do We Drink Milk in School?
9:42
Why does the government care about race?
8:37
How Did Edison Invent Christmas Lights?
10:49
Hijabs, yarmulkes, habits, and dastars — why do so many religions have rules about hair?
9:16
When did makeup ads become less about beauty and more about science?
8:05
When did tattoos shift from counterculture to mainstream?
9:10
Why does the Minimum Wage exist at all?
8:39
Why do we think there are only two genders? And how are sex and gender different?
8:00
Why did humans start domesticating animals as pets and not livestock?
6:46
What do the Great Depression and farm subsidies have to do with eating popcorn at movies?
7:23
Why was it illegal for women to wear men’s clothing and for men to wear women’s clothing?