TLDR;
This video challenges the romanticized notion of the "trad wife" in medieval times, arguing that it's a modern fabrication. It highlights that women in the Middle Ages actively participated in the workforce alongside men, both in rural and urban settings. The video also explores the economic roles of women in religious life, particularly within convents.
- The "trad wife" ideal is a modern fabrication.
- Medieval women actively participated in the workforce.
- Convents were economic hubs run by women.
Intro [0:00]
The content creator introduces the topic of "trad wives," a popular lifestyle trend on social media that idealizes women who marry young, have children, and create a specific domestic aesthetic. She expresses skepticism about this trend, viewing it as artificial and a potential new scam. She contrasts it with feminism, noting a sense of unreality and artificiality in the modern resurrection of this traditional image.
Challenging the Trad Wife Ideal [0:13]
The video challenges the modern "trad wife" ideal by examining the historical reality of women's lives in the Middle Ages. It refutes the notion that medieval women were confined to domestic duties, highlighting that this idea is a romanticized and inaccurate portrayal of the past. The presenter argues that the concept of a traditional wife is not based on historical tradition.
Household Economies in Medieval Society [5:45]
Medieval society was structured around household economies where the entire family worked together. Children contributed to the family's work from a young age. In rural settings, women worked alongside men in farming, performing tasks such as sorting supplies and fixing equipment. This collaborative effort is supported by historical evidence, including illustrations from the Latrell Psalter and the Doomsday Survey of England.
Women's Occupations in Medieval England [9:34]
The Doomsday Survey of England reveals women engaged in various occupations within the feudal system, including brewing, baking, and dairy farming. Women participated in village industries alongside men, with the exception of blacksmithing due to its physical demands. They combined household duties with contributions to medieval cottage industries, contributing to the economic health of the manor.
Women in Urban Economies [10:16]
Medieval guild records, tax roles, and city statutes demonstrate that women actively participated in urban economies as wives, widows, and independent artisans. The Book of Trades, compiled in 1268, documents the regulations of Parisian trades, listing around 100 craft professions, with five headed by women. Women also worked alongside men in most of the other professions. Certain industries, particularly in the textile and fashion sectors, were dominated by women, such as silk winding, ribbon making, linen embroidery, and spinning.
Independent Women and Religious Life [13:05]
Town charters and legal records refer to the "fem sole" or single woman status in English law, which allowed unmarried or widowed women to trade and sue in court on their own. Widows commonly took over their deceased husbands' businesses, including banking and trading ventures. Monasticism was popular, with medieval nuns running their own convents that operated as estates, workshops, and houses of trade. Convents held extensive lands and feudal rights, engaging with local markets and craftsmen.
Economic Activities of Convents [15:14]
Convents generated income through the manufacture of luxury goods, such as textiles, embroidery, weaving, and books, which they provided to patrons in exchange for donations. They also sold surplus agricultural produce like butter, cheese, and wool. Some convents had breweries and sold ale to pilgrims, with nuns handling brewing, serving, and bookkeeping. These activities demonstrate a form of female financial independence in the Middle Ages, with convents functioning as economic hubs run by women.
Conclusion [16:07]
The video concludes by reiterating that the "trad wife" ideal promoted on social media is a fabrication based on a misunderstanding of history. Medieval women worked alongside their husbands and treated their households as cohesive economic units. Work was local, and families typically spent their entire lives together, sharing the same work and raising their families together.
Outro [17:04]
The content creator expresses that the information presented was expected and not revolutionary. She acknowledges that many people still believe in the romanticized idea of the "trad wife," but she does not share that belief. She views the concept as a "note version" of the modern "waifu." She thanks her patrons and encourages viewers to support her work so she can improve her living situation.