Unusual, Unique, and Highly Regarded Women
Unusual women are treated unusually. Women who are already outside the normal rules have a lot more freedom. For example, Joan of Arc (who will live a few centuries later) will be a bizarre, vision-seeing, miracle worker. How much more unusual is it for her to don armor and sword belt? This example is more for high-level characters (in game terms, Joan built up reputation with her high religious level, then started adding warrior levels), but might be available for low-level characters with clever enough players.