The development of print culture and the rise of the book trade in sixteenth-century France had a complex impact on women's roles and experiences. Women's literacy rates were low, but they participated in the book trade in various capacities, including as readers, collectors, printers, and publishers. Their involvement as printers and publishers was often limited by societal expectations and gender norms, with many women working under male names or as widows taking over businesses temporarily. Women's publications were often constrained by traditional gender roles, with authors like Marguerite de Navarre and Louise Labe using strategies to navigate these constraints. The rise of print culture provided new opportunities for women to publish, but it also reinforced existing gendered expectations and limitations.