Boehm (1999) proposes that gossip can serve as a “leveling mechanism” for neutralizing the dominance tendencies of others, making it a “stealthy activity by which other people’s moral dossiers are constantly reviewed”

The recognition of its importance in maintaining group life makes acceptance of it a necessity, but its potential for advancing the interests of one individual at the expense of another poses a threat that must be contained if the group is to function effectively. Thus, paradoxically, gossip can serve as both a form of antisocial behavior and as a... See more

The Scold’s Bridle (sometimes referred to as the “Brank’s Bridle,” or more simply, “The Branks”) was a device used to publicly punish and humiliate women who were perceived as quarrelsome or as gossips, shrews, or scolds. It first appeared in Britain during the 1500s ( Science Museum of London, 2013 ) and it gradually spread to several other... See more