Women in Old Norse Society: A Portrait

Jenny Jochens captures in fascinating detail the lives of women in pagan and early Christian Iceland and Norway--their work, sexual behavior, marriage customs, reproductive practices, familial relations, leisure activities, religious practices, and legal constraints and protections. Women in Old Norse Society places particular emphasis on changing sexual mores and the impact of Christianity as imposed by the clergy and Norwegian kings. It also demonstrates the vital role women played in economic production.