Women In Viking Culture

Women have had to fight for their freedoms throughout history, and gender inequality is not a new concept to a woman. Until 1920 women in the United States did not have the right to vote. There are still modern societies that do not give women rights. Although the United States has more freedoms than some countries, women still have uneven power. There is no society where women and men are completely equal, even in the modern world. A man and a women could do the same job, but the man would get paid more than the women. Some nations are closer to achieving equality, but by current standings, humans live in a male dominated world. The treatment of women is similar today to the women of Viking culture. The struggle of gender inequality has been
There is a common misconception that women in Viking culture were warriors. The women did not fight in the battles. Instead they were shield maidens. A shield maiden would pick up the shield of a fallen man and hold it herself, or she would stand in the front lines. The role of women warriors is debatable and uncertain. Many historians believe there were women warriors, while some believe there were very few, if any. "Scant archaeological evidence aside and all stereotypes too, we do see the presence of this rare role of the warrior woman"(Warrior Woman). The role of women in battle was rare, if there were women warriors. There was a lot of inequality between men and women. Women did not engage in the raiding a pillaging. They would stay back and tend the farm while their husbands were out. Women in the United States can be in the army, but they are held at a lower standard than men. Women were denied highly ranking and physical positions. Men typically get the higher ranking combat positions because they are believed to be stronger than women. Until 2013, women in the United States Army were not allowed to be in combat positions. The standard for men is not the same as women. The treatment of women in the army is similar to the Viking women. Women could be in the army, but are limited and held back. There is not equality in the United States military or the warriors of the Dark
The daily routine of a woman in Viking society would include child care, sewing, cooking, and doing the family finances. The women would mostly be in charge of domestic care. "Women's responsibilities were clearly defined to be domestic. Members of either sex who crossed the gender line were, at very least, ostracized by society. Some cross-gender behaviors were strictly prohibited by law"(Hurstwic). When the men were away raiding other villages, the women would be allowed to tend to the farm. The same ideals are shown in modern day America. The stereotypical view of women's work is the at home mother. Daily routine of a woman still includes cooking, cleaning, and child care. Women in America typically work and have the same jobs as men. But even in the workplace there is inequality. A women has to work twice as hard to get a job as a man does. Biased opinions stifle a woman's chance of getting a higher paying job. Only 4.8% of CEOs are women, which shows how men dominate the workforce. Viking women and American women are held back by men. The daily routine of a woman should not have to be strictly