What is the role and status of women in the play Macbeth and in general in the 11th century?

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the role
women are supposed to play in society is demonstrated most specifically by Lady
Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth does not have any official or
legitimate power of her own.  Any power she has, has to be generated indirectly by
influencing her husband.  The male has the power.  She so powerfully rejects her
traditional role, of course, that she prays to be made more like a man, which leads us
to the unofficial view of women.  Everything Lady Macbeth prays not to be is what she is
expected to be:  full of pity, mild, gentle,
non-aggressive.

Her role in the society of the play is to
keep house and play hostess (she greets Duncan as hostess and hosts all of Macbeth's
feasts) and to raise children (thus, her imagery of ripping her babe from her breasts
while breast feeding).  Again, she rejects these roles, except in the sense that the
hostess role helps her keep her deeds hidden, or at least that's the
plan.