Most women in medieval Europe were expected to marry, have many children, and manage the household, though they had little autonomy over decisions. Farming was the primary occupation, and women's roles included caring for animals, running dairies through milking and producing butter and cheese, and assisting with seasonal harvesting and slaughtering. A small number of women became nuns, either by choice or their family's wishes, and convent life allowed some women more independence and opportunities to organize, write, and read compared to married life.