[Reily]

The whole shield maiden thing seems to be mostly myth. TV “history” is enamored with it because we have to keep the “new myth” that women can stand toe-to-toe with men is hand-to-hand combat. I guarantee wearing a shirt of mail (maybe!) holding a shield and whacking with a sword in a life or death environment is not the same as going to Cross-Fit! No matter how much modern young women want it to be so or how many times its portrayed as true on TV.

[JohnyBoy]

This is actually what happens when men and women fight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxzd7kKm91c

Note that the guy was pulling his punches to avoid doing serious harm to her. If he had been going full bore she would have been down in seconds.

[Snickering Hound]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freyd%C3%ADs_Eir%C3%ADksd%C3%B3ttir

Leif Erikson’s daughter lived up to the shield maiden myth...

[Pollster1]

TV “history” is enamored with it because we have to keep the “new myth” that women can stand toe-to-toe with men is hand-to-hand combat.

I think TV is enamored of the "Warrior Princess" because the concept generates good ratings. I'm not sure why. Female warriors always seem to be too poor to afford much clothing.