
Comparing Women's Work with Nena Vandeweerdt
From The Medieval Podcast by Danièle Cybulskie
March 26, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 334
About this episode
Danièle Cybulskie interviews Nena Vandeweerdt about the various roles and regulations of women's work in medieval society.
Last week, we talked about a woman whose work was to support her husband’s dreams of conquest – and her son’s dreams of rebellion. But what about the medieval women whose work was a little more ordinary? What was the 9-5 like for the women who kept households, shops, and towns running? And how did that work differ from place to place? This week, Danièle speaks with Nena Vandeweerdt about women's work inside and outside of guild structures, how it was regulated, and how opportunities changed for women across time and space. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
People in this episode
Host: Danièle Cybulskie
Guest: Nena Vandeweerdt
Topics covered
- women's work
- medieval history
- guild structures
- household management
- economic roles
- social history
Keywords
- medieval women
- work
- guilds
- households
- shops
- towns
- regulation
- opportunities
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
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