The general attitude
towards women in Medieval times, was that they were inferior
to men. Generally, women were taught that they should
be meek and obedient to their fathers and husbands, though
this did not prevent some women from becoming among the
most respected Christian saints and scholars, or in some
rare cases, from changing history (like Joan of Arc).
In the day-to-day reality of things, Medieval women had
a lot of responsibility and were not at all inferior to
men in terms of daily effort. Most worked and did not
stay at home, contrary to some modern beliefs. Many toiled
alongside their families in the fields, and some were
employed in workshops or were trades-women.
Women sometimes
had the responsibility of running large estates, due to
the death of a husband (widows were permitted to hold
land, and a woman with a lot of land was just as powerful
and influential as a man with the same property). They
settled local disputes and arranged estate finances. They
even took equal responsibility in defending castles or
manors from invaders.
 Unmarried women holding lands were powerful and had the
same rights as men. However, when a woman married, she
forfeited her lands and rights to her husband. Upon his
death, she was officially entitled to inherit a third
of the land so that she might support herself. Some unmarried
women entered convents or nunneries where they lived a
life similar to a monk's. This afforded them the chance
to obtain an education or lead a devout life. Many nuns
cared for the sick and also became important figures in
the community, not to mention those who would eventually
be recognized as saints.
Occupations held by medieval women included shopkeepers,
bakers, spinners, alewives (those that brewed ale), farmers,
and silk weavers. There were even some women writers.
Being a spinner was the most common occupation. Women
spent much of their time spinning wool into coarse thread,
then weaving it into cloth and making garments that were
needed by all. Some areas were worse than others. In Scotland,
particularly among the feudal highlands, highlanders were
all considered “gentlemen,” and therefore were
supposed to go to war or defend their land, but not tend
the land, since this would “befoul” them, meaning
that all the extra work would go to children and women.
Young single women often wore their hair loose, but once
married almost all Medieval women wore a linen wrap to
cover the hair. This was a sign of modesty, and a clear
sign to other men that they were already married. Other
items worn by Medieval women included hair pins, prayer
beads, leather purses, woolen knee stockings, and leather
shoes. Dress codes were very strict in certain places,
particularly during the time of the Spanish Inquisition.
The women of Medieval Europe worked hard, as it was a
hard world to live in, and all needed to work to survive
a harsh and unforgiving world.
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