They chose the life of war, valour & athletic prowess. According to Saxos Grammaticus in his The Danish History, Books 1-9, he describes several shield maidens and states that at one point or another, the maidens would put away feminine ideals and take up wearing men's attire and wield weapons. H mentions Sela, a shield maiden several times. In Book 5, he writes several paragraphs of Alfhild who, "exchanged woman's for man's attire, and, no longer the most modest of maidens, began the life of a warlike rover." She gathers many like minded maidens and begins the life of a pirate. Then goes on to describe the women among the Danes who dressed like men, devoted their lives to the pursuit of war, refused to suffer their valour be unstrung or dulled by the infection of luxury and abhorred all dainty living. They sought to be zealously skilled in warfare.
You can read about Brynhilda in the Volsunga saga which is detailed in the Poetic Edda, however, she is mentioned both as "shield maiden" and "Valkyrie." In every account, the woman chooses to become a shield maiden, warrior, pirate, etc.
May 01 2014, 8:51 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shieldmaiden
