No, Medieval Women Weren’t Tradwives

The modern “tradwife” trend is all over TikTok and Instagram — but is it really traditional? In this video, we dive into medieval history to reveal the truth about women’s roles in the Middle Ages. Spoiler: there were no stay-at-home housewives baking sourdough in isolation while their husbands went to work. Medieval society functioned very differently from the sanitized nostalgia of the tradwife aesthetic. Whether in rural villages, urban guilds, or powerful convents, women were vital contributors to the economy, culture, and spiritual life of their time. If you've ever wondered what life was actually like for women in the Middle Ages — and whether "traditional" roles were even real — this one’s for you. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – Intro: What is a “tradwife”? 0:37 – Was this how women used to live? 1:35 – The 1950s: The real origin of the housewife ideal 2:02 – Household economies in medieval villages 2:52 – The Luttrell Psalter: Visual proof of shared labor 3:15 – Domesday Book: Women in feudal industries 4:05 – Parisian guild records: Women as artisans 4:36 – Women-dominated trades in fashion and textiles 4:50 – Independent women and the femme sole 5:20 – Donna Andrea di Narni: A solo female merchant 5:55 – Nuns and convents as economic powerhouses 6:21 – Malling Abbey’s market rights and landholdings 6:50 – Nuns making luxury goods, ale, and revenue 7:43 – Recap: No, medieval women weren’t “tradwives” 8:34 – Final thoughts + your take? Topics Covered: • The truth behind the tradwife aesthetic • Daily life for medieval women • Women in medieval villages vs. cities • Nuns, convents, and economic independence • The myth of the stay-at-home medieval housewife • Historical evidence from the Domesday Book, Luttrell Psalter, and guild records