Elven female warriors

[Vanya]

Reading Tolkien, and I read Lotr, Sil, UT, I had impression that female Elves didn't take much action in battles . Other than Galadriel, who along with Celeborn, led the attack on Dol Guldur ( and I belive , did fight, not only wached from safe distance), and Aredela, Turgon's sister, who was described as very independant, brave, skillfull in horseriding and hunting, there are not many stories about female warriors. Luthien was brave, but used singing and magic. Somehow, when there is talk about Elven army, it always seems that it was male army.
Of course, it's normal that most of elven wifes stayed home and took care of children, but certanly there could have been large number of young females that wanted to join the army, and earn glory and place in poems. They had the skills, I'm sure.
But, I didn't read HoME, maybe there are some stories there?
What do you think about it?

[Fingolfin II]

I agree with you Vanya; there appears to be a sort of stereotype about women in the Sil and Lotr. Two female "fighters" I know of are mortal- Morwen (not really a fighter) and Haleth.

[Lalaith]

You're right Vanya, the tradition of female warriors seems to have been found among mortals rather than elves, at least as far as the Silmarillion tells us.
Actually it wasn't just Haleth, among the Haladrim it was a general custom for women to fight.
Morwen did not fight, but her female relative, Beren's mother, Emeldir the man-hearted, did.
As for elfwomen - in UT, Galadriel fought to defend Alqualonde, and in many versions of the Fall of Gondolin, Idril Celebrindal donned armour and fought.
But that's about it.
However, Tolkien also has the following to say in Morgoth's Ring:

There are, however, no matters which among the Eldar only a ner [male] can think or do, or others with which only a nis [female] is concerned.

Also:

Indeed in dire straits or desperate defence, the nissi [females] fought valiantly, and there was less difference in strength and speed between elven-men and elven-women that had not borne child than is seen among mortals.

Howeve, he seems to be specific about mothers not fighting, and that healers of either sex should not go to war.

Actually your question has set me wondering about how elven women did pass the time. Not on childcare - they lived for thousands of years, most of them only had a couple of kids in that time, and they, says Tolkien " needed little governing or teaching. "
So what were they doing? Weaving? Playing on dulcimers? Having pedicures?

[Elianna]

Also, if memory serves from Morgoth's Ring, the women were usually the healers and the elves feared that if women fought, they would loose their healing abilities.

As to what they were doing:
There's a whole stinkin' lot to do on the home-front while the boys are fighting, making weapons and food and other supplies. Also we're told what Arwen did when Aragorn was off fighting for her hand: she wove him the flag, and "watched over him in thought."

[Vanya]

Thank you for your answers, Lalaith and Elianna. I think that mortal women ceep better score ( we forgot Eowyn) in stories told, at least. maybe, if Professor lived few more years, he could have given us some great stories about Elven warriors.
Conserning the other issue, how did they spent their time, I can add another one. How did the organisation of their householdes looked like (did the noble families had elven servants) ? Did they have casts?Did they had professions (except healing)? Man were blacksmits, gardians, minstrels, artists, soldiers. Were they payed for their work, or it funcioned as a commune of sort?
A lot of questions, no?

[Lalaith]

Here's a thread that may answer some of your questions, or at least whet your speculative appetite...
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=815