“And the battlefield wasn’t the only place that women had power: they brewed beer, wrote books, led religiousmovements, healed people, and even ruled nations. Those who dismiss a broader range of roles for women as “activism” or “anachronism” refuse to acknowledge real women’s real experiences. They deny them the rich and varied lives led by actual, real people. And worse, they deny that women—past and present—have the capacity to learn, to grow, to fight, and to lead.“ [x]
“Guild records show us that women were active in many trades. In Paris, women participated in over 100 trades, some of which were practiced only by women and some by men and women. IN the 1300’s women were practicing some trades that were later restricted to men. There were women barbers, apothecaries, armorers, shipwrights, tailors and spurriers. In Paris we find records of women in building trades, such as masons, carpenters, makers of doors and diggers of gravel. However nearly all trades had fewer women than men and in many trades the number declined as time went on. In 1420 n London, only 20 out of 300 brewers were female. This was a trade which many women had practiced in the early Middle Ages. (Adams, p. 28)“ [x]
And that’s not even taking into account the experiences of women in places like Ireland or Scandinavia, where the opportunities available could be very different from their French or English counterparts, with one of my favorite examples being female bards in Ireland. Were they subjected to sexism on account of their professions? Yes. Female satirists were generally lumped in with the lowest of the low in Irish society. If I ever sugarcoat the tough reality for women who chose a more independent path, please pinch me. But erasing them helps no one.
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