Was There Gender Equality in the Viking Age?

On the issue of gender equality in the Old Norse Viking Age society, as well as the generalizations, stereotypes and cultural biases created around women and their role in history and within past cultures.
Bibliography at the end of this video.
My Social Media:
/ arithharger
/ vikingwidunder
society6.com/arithharger
/ arithharger
Concerning the thumbnail of this video (as always, my own work with digital art and photo manipulation) it's a famous stereotype on "Nordic Women" purposely created for this very video, to highlight similar issues.
#vikingage #oldnorse #genderequality

[@teresafigueiredo4760]

Hello! Good morning, good content to start the day 😊 🌞 🌈 right ! Thank you for so much you give us. Keep up the good work.

Good morning! Thank you!!! Have a wonderful day and rest of the week :D Cheers!

[@whatshappening708]

The last video I saw from you you had said that you were finished on KZbin and I was really sad about that I didn't know you kept making videos and I am super excited because I love your videos they have really helped me in so many ways okay I'm going to enjoy this one now

[@roofgarden8039]

Good morning was a misunderstanding, what he said in that video is that he was going to leave social media just that.

[@roofgarden8039]

❤

[@alicecarmin6646]

❤

[@alicecarmin6646]

Oui, il allait quitter les filets, mais heureusement il continue son magnifique travail ! Je suis content de l’avoir fait.

Hello, good morning! Well, it seems a lot of people misunderstood, my bad :) I said in the video I was going to leave social media networks but I would continue with KZbin, and so I did, hehe. Thank you for being around. Be well and have a great day!!!

[@melissabrentford8260]

Arith Härger ✨Always here!

[@teresafigueiredo]

I agree with the idea of clarifying that it didn't go away.

[@roofgarden8039]

Always interesting Thank you very very much ❤️ love you

Thank you friend! Have a wonderful day! Be well! :D

[@alicecarmin6646]

Je n’oublierai jamais les mercredis👌

[@simonekaspy2231]

What I understood was that I was going to stay with your commitment on KZbin.

[@simonekaspy2231]

Yes, it would be good to clarify again.

[@Harpianyx]

Learning how it really used to be gives us the strength and the motivation to do different now, thanks for keeping enlightening us with your work, so we can move on the right direction! This is power! ❤

[@WhiteWolfeHU]

I mean I thought society today was completely modern and different from old times and look how terrible everything is today! We don’t want to keep going with the new! That’s exactly the point of history, stick with what’s been stable and works.

[@Harpianyx]

@@WhiteWolfeHU there’s no way to go but ahead honey… also women have civil rights today which is pretty much the power to raise hell in this society, so if we’re not happy we can kick some butts 💕

[@panzer00]

​@Harpianyx raise hell about what?

[@Harpianyx]

@@panzer00 well love, I think there are a few points worth it… like the fact that women fighting for their interests make so many people triggered… or may be just because I (we) want to 😉

[@panzer00]

@Harpianyx Are you goin to answer the question? The only reason you would raise hell is to trigger other people or because you want to? That sounds like a weak argument. Is asking a question a sign of being triggered?

[@teresafigueiredo]

Of course it didn't go away ❤

[@marcelorocha4437]

Exelente profesor como siempre !! Muy buen video,aqui de Uruguay..,obrigado voce

[@Sheepdog1314]

not sure "gender-equality" in the modern sense can be applied to history. Everyone back then had a role to fulfill, a purpose within the society. I don't think people questioned their gender, their role in society or their purpose. Life was tough and there was no room for playing around. There were females that felt they were capable of holding up in warfare, and that goes for any culture. It was just not a "thing" or pushed or supported. Many times the females did their thing and later on reverted back to home-life (famous Native American women went to war with the men, and later in life became wives and mothers). The system back then was different, the main goal was to have children to help survive the harsh life and propagate the tribe or clan, and to have children to inherit the wealth of the family. We can't overlay our modern ideology on what was real back then. Living conditions today are nothing like it was back then, people today have the luxury of questioning if or why they have a role in society and can disregard it completely - maybe that is one of the reasons there is so much mental illness in modern western society - many people have no goal, no path, no direction, no purpose and most certainly very little parental guidance

[@dawntibble5289]

Thank you Aroth. Mug theory is split between the natural behaviour and the political imposition of unnatural laws of patriarchy. Mammal communities are matriachal. How far does this change go back? We could go as far as the end of the nomadic era and farming, losing the male role of hunting and protecting. They replaced this with land laws mainly organised by men who are the farmers. Jump forward we can include indulgences from old Greek or Roman vs Egyptian cultures of status . In the Viking sagas it seems they are referring to a particular group within a whole community, so maybe status camWarrior Warrior ability ? .

[@tommaddox6696]

Not sure how the KZbin algorithm kept me from seeing this for 3 weeks. As usual another great video, well done

[@sevenis9712]

Good evening from Georgia in the states. This definitely gave a simplified explanation of Viking women/ Scandinavian women in history / Viking age. Thank you.

[@melissabrentford8260]

Mr. Arith, make a video and please tell everyone that it was a misunderstanding. 🌷 Thanks

[@ravenodinson7483]

Fascinating.

[@guyh.4553]

Very interesting subject. Personally, I had thought that Norse women had pretty high levels in their societies. Love your videos Arith!

[@andreparker8397]

Its comforting to know that my report on women of the norse that I did in 5th grade, was/ is accurate.

[@andreparker8397]

It always amazes me how "modern" people try (and fail) to understand the past. Often viewing the modern era as more advanced, culturally superior, and 'better.' Cultural anthropology knows that is a HUGE mistake. Thank you for highlighting this bias.

[@GremRaven]

I greatly enjoy listening to your videos. Excellent work!

[@simonekaspy2231]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@RidinWithMyLocsOn]

Always interesting to listen to! May I ask where you are from? Have a great day!

[@stewartthomas2642]

Love your stuff kick on love it 👍 ❤

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

Very interesting and informative as always my friend. 😃 always a pleasure for your insight and understanding of historical accounts and knowledge for the community to process.❤

[@peterkracht6621]

National Museum of Denmark: "Interesting video Arith... angry memo to follow."

[@simonekaspy2231]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@afonsorafael2728]

Obrigado por hoje? És português ou apenas sabes falar? (pergunto apenas por curiosidade)

[@MrChristianDT]

From what I've seen, the Greeks & Romans were outliers in terms of gender equality across Europe- and the Greeks even said that pre-Roman residents of the Italian Peninsula gave women more rights over property & other dealings than they did. You see a lot of roughly the same treatment of women echoed in what was written on the Germans, the Scandanavians, the Celts & the Slavs- elderly womens' advice was highly regarded, women could own property & be leaders & priests, some women fought in war, though you have variances from culture to culture on how common that was, or what kind of circumstances brought such a practice on & they were generally very well treated by their men & not domineered over. Among the Celts, a woman could even be considered the dominant leader of a household, under certain laws.

[@Aaronarmstrong03]

Would you consider ever doing a video on Anglo-Saxon paganism, or pre-Christian religion of people in England during early Iron Age or before? I love your work btw!!💕

[@larrymarron1170]

Is it just me or? Does everybody have to segregate everything even? The sexes and their roles in society. I'm pretty sure when you talk about The Nordic, Germanic And Angelo Saxon tribes. I'm pretty sure you do not segregate Than by their sex, but I'm pretty sure a lot of the viewers do. Maybe we're all insecure of what where's supposed to do in life? But I'm pretty sure back then. It was pretty clear on what you needed to do to Live And survive out there in the wilderness, Survival was the key. No matter how. You're doing good, sir. You're doing good.

[@Junkinsally]

As long as society produces insecure men, it will produce women who suffer because of it. How much you “suffer” depends on your status in said society. Same theme since the beginning.

[@MorganaCrows]

Gratidão amor 💜💜💜💜🦋🔥🤘🤘🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

[@ernamoller175]

Thank you Arith for your unbaised version on the role of women in history.....nothing has changed, we are still not being acknowledged for the roles we play in society...even if its just being a housewife.

[@zen-sufi]

Facts.

[@candide1065]

hahahahaha XD

[@larrymarron1170]

I hope it wasn't too negative.

[@alysmarcus7747]

hey Arith! yup, woman and history and representation. nothing is changed much.

[@simonekaspy2231]

Yesterday they sent me a video about a woman from Iran who was killed because she wasn't wearing the burqa properly!!

[@panzer00]

​@simonekaspy2231 we think that's wrong but they think it's right. Not our business either way. Those women need to fight to change it, if that's what _they_ want.

[@zen-sufi]

​@@panzer00 It's all women's business to help in the fight. If you're a male, then stay out of the way. You don't care, either way.

[@panzer00]

@quietus333 LOL. No, it is not. Move to Iran and help them then, I _dare_ you.

[@zen-sufi]

@@panzer00 Are you a male?

[@karaleea1671]

verry interesting 🤔

[@familiabranquinhobranquinh9503]

Women Are Forces Of Nature Thank You Arirh

[@candide1065]

Wtf? Hope you heal someday

[@Junkinsally]

@@candide1065-It was a compliment babe.

[@carolnascimento7494]

It was a patriarchal society already. Ty so much for your "lessons"!

[@Johnny3Batony]

Every society in history was patriarchal. Women weren't born to be rulers and leaders. They have other roles that are just as much important.

[@carolnascimento7494]

@@Johnny3Batony correct. But before that all societies were matriarchal and governed by women.

[@atelier27]

​ @Johnny3Batony This statement is plainly inaccurate. Every society in history and even today was not/is not patriarchal. I will not argue or provide a dissertation or links because most people double down on their belief system regardless. Everyone has access to the same search buttons and information about history as I do. Most of our Western written history is indeed about patriarchal societies. That is both because there were/are many and because information about societies that are matriarchal or less hierarchical in general doesn't make it into the preserved records. And by the way, I love Western society as it exists today (always room for improvement) and am grateful for the growth that got us here as it is better for all of us now than it was in the past. I acknowledge that the seeds of liberation were created within Western societies when many people were enslaved and oppressed. It took many centuries of bravery, intellect, science, and resistance to get us where we and our progeny are handed rights and a high standard of living that seem self-evident but have evolved and improved over long periods and hopefully will continue to. We rely on technology for most work even many aspects of war and soldiering so brute strength and force are not a factor in the historical divisions of labor anymore, at least for most things. Wishing you prosperity and Peace.

[@Iorvethfox]

@@atelier27cope. Biology is biology

[@atelier27]

@@Iorvethfox coping just fine here. Peace.

[@jennchristiansen9427]

My husband signed up for an ancestry test. And, it came back that he had a significant UK percentage. He couldn’t wait to tell me. (His grandmother was from Norway.) And, the very first thing I said was it may not have been your great^power grandmother’s choice in that matter. I couldn’t help it. He looks High German. He found out he was 0.3% Jewish, and I told him, just tell work you are part of the tribe. And it went on and on. I love your work. Feminism does influence modern history. I did find it funny that you were politically correct in describing city women as well-nourished instead of the really skinny farm girl.

[@AstroMartine]

sounds like the Celts respected women more

[@atelier27]

this is very true, depending on the tribe. Women and men were tribal leaders and chiefs.

[@candide1065]

and?

[@candylandi5351]

Short answer: *no.*

[@Valkron11]

I was watching Vikings Valhalla and I started wondering how many Vikings were black? The only black Vikings I was aware of were from Minnesota 🤔

[@candide1065]

XDDDDDDD

[@marketlg24]

No there wasn’t. It’s not the history channel series

If it were the History Channel, somehow aliens would be involved in the making of viking women.

[@prodigalson6166]

Thank you My Brother, it is good to know the difference between history and how the spirit moves us . Just because our Traditions can be reinterrupted into an Egalitarian perspective doesn't mean we should impose our perceptions on our more recent Ancestors.* * This is also important for understanding, the yet to be discovered, by Western Academia, Paleolithic History, which is recorded on the walls of the Caves of Europe. There is much more in common that American Native society has with the Proto Indo-European than the Solutrean and Clovis Points; What is mistaken to be "Cave Art" 🙄 is what we American Natives call Picto-writing; it's a written language that relies on concepts, common patterns in nature and life, as opposed to sounds. Once Western Academia catches on to this, a whole new field of Archeology is going to burst open like a flood gate. I subscribe to the many Historical Traditions, world wide, that say at some point in Ancient, Paleolithic, history All peoples were Egalitarian, but at different points shifted to Hierarchal society. According to Zulu Oral History, it was Woman who invented Patriarchy, as understood in common by Zulu and Many American Native Peoples; Egalitarian is to Matriarchy whereas Hierarchy is to Patriarchy; physical gender not Necessarily being a factor, but the difference between an aggressive/masculine approach in contrast to a nurturing/feminine approach: with the understanding that these are themselves contemporary perspectives of society; as when examined, there has always been a variety of Matriarchal and Patriarchal influences in every culture, regardless of rather they were based on Matriarchy or Patriarchy. ✌🏽🪶🦅🌲🇺🇸

[@CroMagnon42]

Vik🔥ng 🔱omen