Question for the scholars: Dwarf women

[DavetheLost]

Breast are required for nursing only during lactation. Many animal species do not have prominent breasts at other times, Dwarves could be the same.

"and in garb so like the men", this just tells us that Dwarves do not have gender distinctive clothing, or at least that the distinctions are not noted by non-Dwarves.

D&D and the Peter Jackson movies are not Tolkien's own writings nor are they TOR. That being said if you want the Dwarvish women in your game to be seven-foot Amazons no-one is stopping you. Although it would be decidely odd.

[Otaku-sempai]

This is something I've never quite understood. They may have beards, but to give birth they would need more rounded heaps than males and breasts to feed the babies. Now, how could they not be told apart?

Tolkien seems to imply they do dress in a different fashion from males when they are not in the outer world.

Would they be allowed to go outside at all? Wouldn't they have been raised to fulfill a role within Dwarven society of mothers if they are so few? Would they be at risk of being kidnapped/forced to stay "for their own security" by dwarven laws or rejected from Dwarven society if they decide to go against the norm?

Tolkien's writings about the Dwarves seem a bit contradictory in regards to the role and rights of Dwarf-women. There are relatively few of them, but at the same time they often do not seek husbands--especially if a desired mate is unavailable. It is no wonder that the Dwarves are in decline by the end of the Third Age.

I do think that female Dwarves tend to dress differently in private and that it is possible that single Dwarf-women have a bit more freedom in their dress and appearance than do married ladies, but Tolkien did not elaborate on this. I imagine Lady Dís, sister to Thorin, to be a bit of a rebel in her later years. I see her dressing in dwarven robes of mourning (possibly white, as was the stone of Thorin's tomb) and not giving a fig about custom. But that is just me.

[Arthadan]

Breast are required for nursing only during lactation. Many animal species do not have prominent breasts at other times, Dwarves could be the same.

"and in garb so like the men", this just tells us that Dwarves do not have gender distinctive clothing, or at least that the distinctions are not noted by non-Dwarves.

The full quote (my emphasis):

They are in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to the dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of other peoples cannot tell them apart.

So, if the are not on a journey their apperance and garb could be different from dwarf-men. Even their voice, if they try to sound like their male counterparts while in the outside. Reason for that would be protection, as they are so few and valuable anybody hating dwarves (or wanting their gold) could target them if they can tell them apart.

Edit: Re-reading the quote, I think it's just the dwarf men-like garb what they adopt on journeys. Voice and appereance should resemble strongly their males counterparts at all times.