Final answer:
The Benedictine monastic attitude towards women allowed them significant roles within the monastic community, including leadership positions such as abbesses. This was progressive compared to other contemporary religious practices, providing women with autonomy and the opportunity for a spiritual life independent of their marital status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general Benedictine monastic attitude toward women was progressive for its time, allowing them roles in society separate from their familial ties to men. Monastic life provided women an alternative path, often with educational opportunities and the possibility for leadership, as seen in the influence of abbesses and notable figures such as Radegund, who found solace and status in religious life away from the dangers and constraints of the secular world. Notably, many monasteries were 'double monasteries' with both men and women, implying a recognition of women's spiritual capabilities. In contrast to some religious traditions where women were seen as unclean or excluded from spiritual activities, Benedictine monasticism was more inclusive, though it was not entirely free from the patriarchal norms of the time. Women like Radegund, who became an abbess, could enjoy considerable influence and demonstrate the spiritual and managerial acumen on par with their male counterparts. While not uniformly egalitarian, the Benedictine approach provided a measure of respect and autonomy to women within the context of a religious, communal life.