What has over 100 years of the "feminist movement" achieved for women? It can reasonably be considered that there have been few if any positive advancements for women in the west made as a result of the feminist movement, and indeed because this movement is part and parcel of the universalist, multicultural ideology of the "Left," it has helped to contribute to a general worsening of the conditions for women here. The feminist movement has described all women as a sisterhood, with the same hopes, and aspirations from life, who are oppressed by men - who invariably wish to suppress and dominate women. The feminist movement is a rejection of traditional values.

Given the reputation that the writings of Christian monks have given Vikings - brutal rapists and thugs - people easily jump to the conclusion that Viking men must have treated their womenfolk with similar inconsiderate dominance. Not so! The Vikings, following the Germanic tradition, treated their women as of at least equal worth to men, but with differences that were also important and which defined the roles each sex should fulfill.

At no time in history since these pagan days have relations between the sexes been as good as they were then. But I say that from a Germanic perspective. Every culture has its own ways, and it is no surprise if each thinks their way is best.

In Viking times, a man had first to ask a woman's father if he could marry her, and then he had to get permission from the woman. She had the final decision. This meant that it was somewhat necessary for men to consider how well they were perceived by women in order to be accepted as a husband. Mind you, women in the west continue to have a great deal of choice over whether to accept or reject a man - especially since women are not financially dependent upon a man's income in the way that they have been. (This progress is not necessarily something that the feminist movement won, but rather something that would have come about anyway, to some extent it was pushed along as a result of women helping in munitions factories in WWI). Despite western women having this choice, they frequently marry men who disrespect and abuse them. You can give a woman freedom to choose her man, but that is no guarantee that she choose him well. In fact this is an argument for arranged marriage that has some merit, as well as for the Islamic tendency to marry women off to their cousins.

Sometimes Viking women would agree to marriage on condition that the suitor complete certain tasks. In the Saga of the Jomsvikings, Astrid demands that Sigvaldi should first capture King Svein, a well-liked and powerful Danish king. Sigvaldi risks his life and completes the task. Astrid could be considered more powerful even than the king, in being able to command his capture like that.

Women were also well respected for the ability some had to interpret dreams. The Vikings set a lot of store on this. These women were sought for help and advice. Thyra, one such dream interpreter is described in the Saga of the Jomsvikings as "the wisest woman who ever came to Denmark" and "the Savior of Denmark."

Because Viking goddesses were very important, women were consequently looked up to as sources of advice and help, as if they had goddess-like attributes. The character of any man who did not treat women accordingly was questioned. Some women, especially if married to men of authority, did not deserve to be so well treated and were known to behave like over-indulged, mean and selfish bullies, such as Freydis, daughter of Eirik the Red of Brattahild. She killed several people who had inadvertently annoyed her, and she got away unpunished because of her connections and because she was female.

The Viking women controlled the household while their husbands were absent. They were strong-minded, opinionated and independent. Because the men were so often away for long periods of time, this was an essential character for a woman to have.

Women have a strange tendency to embrace ideologies that put them at a disadvantage. This could be because women tend to be emotional rather than rational. How else to explain why Viking women later showed more enthusiasm than the men towards adopting Christianity, although this reduced their standing in society substantially, with the Church calling for women to subordinate themselves to men. Christianity also brought the concept of women being temptresses by nature, and the cause of man's fall into "original sin". Likewise, women today embrace multiculturalism, although this has resulted in an increase in anti-social behavior, rape and battery, while attempting to absorb cultures where women are traditionally considered as low as farm animals. Perhaps this proves that the source of women's virtue in the Viking/Germanic times was more in the minds of the men folk - and that many women were over-rated! Women can be seen to have been the very cause, collectively speaking, of their own downfall. Women owe our standing in society to the culture, and to the degree of respect afforded to us by men. History shows the kind of men who allow that, and in what kind of community this is feasible.

While most of the Icelandic sagas were about men and mostly written by men, there are many strong female characters in them. The same traits valued in men are also valued in women: honor, courage, wisdom and strong will. Often women are portrayed in the sagas as goading men to act, such as to take revenge. The women were not allowed to take up arms themselves against fellow Vikings or to go to battle. A woman could threaten to divorce a man if he did not act as she wished. Under Icelandic law, divorce was easily completed and if a woman seemed to have just cause, she could claim half of her ex-husband's estate.

Working magic was a woman's role, and it was considered unmanly for men either to use or to benefit from magic. A man was forbidden to pay unwanted attention to a woman. He could not write her romantic verse or attempt to kiss her. To harm a woman was almost unheard of, and considered extremely shameful. A cautionary tale in Njal's Saga tells of how Gunnar slapped his wife's face after finding that she had stolen food from a nearby farm during a famine. Hallgeror, his wife, swore to remember that. Years later, Gunnar was under attack from some men whom he kept at bay by firing arrows. His bow string broke, and he asked his wife for two locks of her hair, that he could plait to make a new string. This she pointedly refused him, even though Gunnar had told her his enemies would kill him -and so they did. In all attacks on households, women and children were not harmed and were allowed to go free. See Droplaugarsona Saga, Gisla Saga or Brennu-Njal's Saga.

This history demonstrates that the claims made in modern feminism of universal abuse of women by men are untrue. Pre-Christian Germanic and Viking women had well defined roles, yet were put on pedestals by the men folk, and respected in a way women in our society may never again experience. Only by realizing what we have lost by abandoning our traditional culture, and rejecting the unnatural practices that result from universalist ideologies, can we return to a relationship between the sexes that benefits both men and women. We must undo the corruption.

by Victoria McMagnus

March 26, 2007