Recent feminist studies have revealed that the place of women in medieval society was complex, significant, and not necessarily as disadvantaged as earlier believed. The books below offer clear, comprehensible views of how women in various classes and roles lived, worked, and affected the world around them in the Middle Ages.
1. Medieval Women
by Eileen Power. After more than 60 years, Power's insightful essays, well-supported by primary evidence, are still the best introduction to the various roles played, privileges enjoyed and responsibilities fulfilled by women in medieval society.2. Women's Lives in Medieval Europe: A Sourcebook
edited by Emilie Amt. This collection of letters, period narratives, laws, archaeological evidence and other primary sources from fifth- through fifteenth-century Europe focuses on the everyday lives of women in all walks of life. An invaluable resource for understanding the true status of women in the Middle Ages.3. Women in the Medieval Islamic World
edited by Gavin R. G. Hambly. 23 authors contributed to this collection of essays, produced by the New Middle Ages project, which focuses on little-known details of life for Muslim women in the Middle Ages. Through a wide variety of topics and perspectives, early Islamic women are revealed as active members of society with influence and creativity. This volume can be expensive, but it is well worth tracking down at the library.
4. Women in Old Norse Society
by Jenny Jochens. Jochens uses early Scandinavian laws, Icelandic sagas and other literature to examine the realities of women's life in Old Norse society. With clarity and perception, she explores such aspects of life as marriage, sex, childbirth and motherhood as well as work and leisure. The changes brought on by the introduction of Christianity are also represented in a balanced manner.5. Women at Work in Medieval Europe
by Madeleine Pelner Cosman. Focusing primarily on English women, but including information on individuals from other areas of Europe, Cosman offers an easily-accessible overview of females in a variety of trades and professions, including writers, physicians, and craftswomen. Her use of primary sources and artwork to examine both famous and lesser-known people results in a fairly authoritative representation of working women in medieval times.