When we think about gender roles in the past, we mostly recall how women had very few rights and were virtually the chattels of their male relatives or spouses. They weren’t allowed to vote, couldn’t own anything unless they were widows, and as for divorce – forget it! A father or husband had complete control in every way with the law on their side. But it would be wrong to assume that things have always been that way – in Viking society, women had a lot more freedom and rights than your average 18th century lady for example. (I’m talking here about free women – thralls had no rights whatsoever, whether male or female).
The Runes of Destiny
Viking girls were not seen as being worth less than boys, but they were taught female/household-oriented skills from an early age. Parents kept a close eye on them, but only so they would be safe from unscrupulous men. It was a matter of honour for a Norse man to be able to protect the women of his family.
Girls were not stifled, as wisdom in a woman was highly valued. They were expected to be intelligent and hardworking – an equal partner in the running of a homestead. In charge of all things domestic, with authority over the indoor household, the symbol of her power was the set of keys she held. Occasionally, she might have to run the entire estate on her own – if her husband went raiding or trading, for example. She was trusted to manage the household resources, to do business, and oversee workers. In short, being a housewife was a very important role.
It was a fact of life that the majority of girls would become wives and mothers, and most Viking women wanted to be married, but for practical rather than romantic reasons. Marriages gave them social status and economic security, and weren’t just a matter between the bride and groom. Family connections and kinship were extremely important, a wedding created strong bonds between the two groups. People knew their ancestors on both sides, not just their father’s.
Fathers had a right to decide who their daughter would marry, but must have known that if she was unwilling, it could cause problems. Therefore, it’s likely girls were often consulted so that the union would be a success. Daughters trusted their fathers to choose someone suitable and many of them accepted this without question, although there are tales of girls who had to be persuaded.
A divorce could be obtained by either the husband or the wife. There was no stigma attached to it unless you were a serial divorcee. There were many possible causes, but the process itself was easy – you just needed to declare your intentions several times in front of witnesses. A bride price had been paid by the groom’s family, and this could be reclaimed if a marriage failed, while the woman had brought a dowry, which she would keep in case she married again.
Some women became ‘wisewomen’, said to predict the future and practise magic. They were held in high esteem. Others worked alongside their men as artisans. Older women in general were respected as intelligent and wise, with a lifetime of experiences to draw upon.
The Norse sagas are full of bold, intelligent and disorderly women who don’t just sit meekly at their looms. They take part in assemblies if their husbands are away, they are outspoken, domineering, even rowdy, and sometimes they are the ones who keep violence and blood feuds going. They were clearly seen as capable leaders and could be ruthless when necessary. I’m pretty sure that if they’d come across a Georgian man, they would have given him what for!
The Runes of Destiny by Christina Courtenay is out in paperback on 10th December, (Headline Review, £9.99)
RELATED: Exclusive interview with Christina Courtenay about her new book New England Rocks
New England Rocks is a Young Adult contemporary romance, featuring an English heroine, Rain, who is expelled from her boarding school and sent to a US high school as punishment. She wants to dislike everything about it, but then she meets Jesse, the hottest guy she’s ever seen. There’s just one small problem, he already has a girlfriend. But does it matter? New England sucks anyway, and Rain doesn’t plan on sticking around … or does she?... to read more click HERE
