What was life like for women in Viking society?

Men were most often associated with warfare and long voyages, but women held essential roles that ensured the survival and stability of the home.

Viking settlements were typically agrarian, with most families relying on farming, animal husbandry, and trade.

Women, who were primarily responsible for domestic duties, managed the household in the absence of men.

This arrangement gave women a certain level of authority and respect in their communities, which was a contrast to many other contemporary societies. 

Viking women's responsibilities included cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, as well as overseeing the storage and preparation of food.

In larger households, women who were in charge would often direct other family members or servants in these tasks.

This made them essential to the survival of their families, especially during harsh winters.

Women were expected to run the household efficiently and ensure that everyone had enough provisions. 

As a result, the division of labor between men and women was largely based on practical needs.

Men who were away for long periods, whether raiding or trading, left the women in control of the farm.

This meant women had to be knowledgeable about farming and animal care. While men focused on tasks such as hunting, warfare, and long-distance travel, women tended to crops and livestock.

Although, this division was not always strictly enforced, as both men and women worked together when necessary. 

Crafts such as textile production were another crucial part of daily life for Viking women.

They who lived in rural areas spun wool, wove cloth, and created garments for their families.

Consequently, women could also engage in trade, exchanging cloth for other goods.

These crafts were labor-intensive and time-consuming, but they were essential for survival, especially in colder regions.

The ability to produce high-quality textiles also provided women with opportunities for status within their communities, as they could be recognized for their craftsmanship and contribution to the local economy. 

Viking marriages were often arranged between families to secure alliances and strengthen social bonds.

These unions were vital to the continuation of the family line and the preservation of property.

Consequently, family connections were deeply valued, and a successful marriage contributed to a family’s honor and influence.

Children who were born into these unions represented the future of the household, which meant that their upbringing was a serious responsibility for both parents. 

Despite this, women played the main role in raising children. Mothers who stayed home to manage the household also became the primary caregivers, teaching their children the skills and values necessary for survival in Viking society.

Boys were trained to farm, hunt, and fight, while girls learned household skills like weaving and managing supplies.

This division of labor, passed down from generation to generation, ensured that each child knew their role within the family.

As a result, children grew up understanding their responsibilities and obligations, which prepared them for adulthood. 

Marriage and childbirth were surrounded by specific rituals and practices that reflected the importance of these events.

Marriage ceremonies, which included the exchange of gifts and feasting, signified the union of two families and the responsibilities that came with it.

After the birth of a child, the naming ceremony, known as vatni ausa, involved sprinkling water on the newborn’s head, a tradition that symbolized the child’s formal introduction into the family and the community. 

Viking women enjoyed significant legal rights, particularly when it came to property ownership and inheritance.

They who were unmarried or widowed had the right to own land and manage their estates independently.

In cases of marriage, women retained ownership of their property, and in the event of a divorce, they could take back what they had brought into the union.

This level of economic independence allowed women to wield considerable influence within their communities.

Viking law recognized the importance of women’s contributions to both the household and the wider society, which helped ensure their rights to property and inheritance were protected. 

Marriage in Viking society was often a contract between families, and women’s consent was required for it to take place.

A woman who married brought a dowry to her husband, which remained hers in case of divorce.

Divorce itself was not uncommon in Viking culture, and women who were dissatisfied with their marriages could initiate it.

They who sought a divorce cited reasons like mistreatment, neglect, or the husband’s prolonged absence.

Family structure in Viking society emphasized the importance of strong alliances, and women played a crucial role in maintaining those ties.

Mothers and wives who managed the household and raised children ensured the continuation of family traditions by passing down land and wealth to the next generation. 

When compared to other cultures of the time, Viking women’s rights were notably advanced.

In many parts of medieval Europe, women were subject to stricter controls over property and had fewer legal avenues for seeking divorce.

For example, in the Frankish and Anglo-Saxon societies, women who were often restricted in legal matters could not easily inherit land, and marriage contracts were primarily controlled by male relatives.

Viking women, by contrast, had more personal freedom and legal recognition. 

Female deities in Norse mythology often reflected the multifaceted nature of womanhood in Viking society.

Freyja, who was the goddess of love, fertility, and war, was one of the most revered figures, who was associated with life and death.

Her role in choosing half of the warriors who died in battle to join her in Folkvangr mirrored the respect Viking society had for women’s influence over life and fate.

Priestesses, who were known as völvas, acted as intermediaries between the human and spiritual worlds.

These women who were believed to have mystical abilities performed rituals and offered guidance. 

Norse mythology presented a balanced view of power, with both male and female deities wielding control over essential aspects of life.

Women who lived in Viking times were often compared to these strong mythological figures.

The Norns, three powerful beings who controlled the fate of gods and men, represented the idea that women had influence over destiny itself.

This belief extended into the real world, where women who were often involved in decision-making processes held sway over the household, inheritance, and even legal matters. 

Other key figures like Skadi, the goddess of winter and hunting, and Hel, who ruled the underworld, chose her own husband and negotiated with the gods.

Also, Hel, who ruled over the dead in her own realm, demonstrated the unique power women could hold over life and death.

Viking society relied heavily on trade, with goods like furs, wool, and amber being exchanged for silver, spices, and textiles from places as far as Constantinople and Baghdad.

Women who were responsible for producing textiles and other valuable goods helped drive this trade.

In places like Birka, a major trading center in Sweden, evidence suggests that women were involved in both the production and management of goods for trade.

Their skills in weaving and crafting made them essential partners in the Viking economy, and women who controlled the production of these goods often gained social influence in their communities. 

There is also evidence that Viking women traveled with men on expeditions, both for trading and raiding.

Archaeological findings, such as the burial of women with weapons in places like the Isle of Man and Oseberg, Norway, suggest that some women were active participants in these journeys.

Women who accompanied men on long trading voyages were often involved in managing the domestic aspects of life on the ships and in foreign settlements.

In the case of expeditions to places like Iceland and Greenland, entire families migrated together, and women who helped establish these new settlements played a vital role in their success. 

Interestingly, trade expanded the status of Viking women within their societies.

Women who were successful in producing and managing valuable goods could gain wealth and influence, especially in regions like Hedeby and Ribe, where trade flourished.

Furthermore, the growing connections between Viking traders and distant markets exposed women to new cultural influences and opportunities. 

The existence of female warriors in Viking society has long been debated. Some evidence supports the idea that women did participate in combat, though their roles were likely rare and exceptional.

Valkyries, who were female figures in Norse mythology, were believed to choose the slain from battlefields and bring them to Valhalla, the hall of the slain warriors.

These mythological beings, who were often depicted as fierce and powerful, may have inspired the image of female warriors.

While Valkyries represented an idealized form of female strength, the question remains whether real Viking women fought in battles or simply took part in supporting roles during raids. 

Similarly, the concept of shieldmaidens, women who fought alongside men, has appeared in several sagas and poems.

Stories like those of Lagertha, a warrior woman who was said to have fought with Ragnar Lothbrok, fueled the belief in female fighters.

However, these tales were often written down centuries after the Viking Age, which meant that they could be romanticized or exaggerated.

Despite this, archaeological finds provide some evidence for female participation in warfare.

One of the most famous examples is the burial discovered in Birka, Sweden, where a skeleton identified as female was buried with weapons and armor.

This grave, which was initially thought to belong to a male warrior, challenged traditional views of Viking gender roles when DNA analysis revealed the remains to be female. 

However, the idea of shieldmaidens remains controversial, with some historians arguing that they were more myth than reality.

While the Birka burial and a few other examples suggest women could have held warrior status, the majority of Viking women likely did not engage in combat.

Most women who lived in Viking societies may have played supportive roles during raids, which meant that they helped manage supplies, cared for the wounded, or defended settlements in times of attack.

It is possible that shieldmaidens existed, but their presence in Viking warfare was likely the exception rather than the rule.