Shanna Bryman
Shanna Bryman
Making Herstory: Evaluating Female Leadership in the Viking Age
Over the past few decades, there has been a rise in research regarding the roles of women in Viking Age society, however, these examinations have largely focused on women as general members of society, and more recently, the exciting possibility of women as warriors. There is still, however, a gap in knowledge regarding women in leadership positions in the Viking Age. This PhD examines modern leadership theory and gender archaeology and will apply key concepts to medieval texts and archaeological evidence to identify female leadership roles in the Viking Age. It will explore the possibility of women coming into power in their own right, what leadership looked like for the women in these roles, whether they were successful and effective leaders, and if so, what made them successful in their positions. Gender roles in the Viking Age will also be addressed as well as the assumption of power assigned to individuals based on the ‘gender’ of grave goods, even if the grave goods buried in male and female graves are similar or identical in nature. As a result of this assumption of power, the accomplishments of many women have been overshadowed or overlooked. By studying more modern-day theories of leadership, and examining Old Norse texts and sagas, along with archaeological evidence, this research aims to decipher leadership qualities, and thereby leadership roles, of women in the Viking Age.
Shanna completed her MLitt in Viking Studies with UHI in 2021. She is supervised by Prof Alex Sanmark, Dr Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson, and Dr Erin Goeres.