Eowyn and feminism and Tolkien

[Rumil]

Hi all,

Alfirin, I think you'll find that Guthlaf was Theoden's standard-bearer, not Eowyn/Dernhelm.

Eowyn seems to have ridden to Gondor in Elfhelm's wing, then sneaked up to the back of Theoden's First Eored just before the first charge is going in (after gaining the outworks).

Though I must say I do think that something peculiar is going on here, does Elfhelm know that Dernhelm is Eowyn? He certainly knows all about 'Master Bag', and

there seemed to be some understanding between Dernhelm and Elfhelm

Not sure how far this goes! Is Elfhelm simply in on the plan to bring Merry along or is he in on the identity of Eowyn? If so, why not expose her?