There are areas where AD&D can be absolute, places where
statements can be accepted as gospel. One such is that of the facial
hirsuteness of female dwarves. Can any Good Reader cite a single
classical or medieval mention of even one Female dwarf? Can they
locate one mention of a female dwarf in any meritorious work of
heroic fantasy (save AD&D, naturally)? I think not! The answer is so
simple, so obvious, that the truth has been long overlooked. Know-
ing the intelligence of AD&D players, there can be no doubt that all
will instantly grasp the revealed truth, once it is presented, and extol
its virtue.
Female dwarves are neglected not because of male chauvinism
or any slight. Observers failed to mention them because they failed
to recognize them when they saw them. How so? Because the
bearded female dwarves were mistaken for younger males, ob-
viously!
It is well known that dwarves are egalitarian. They do not dis-
criminate against their womenfolk or regard them as lesser creatures,
and this is undeniable. Furthermore, dwarves do not relegate fe-
males to minor roles. There can be no doubt that during any im-
portant activity or function, female dwarves were present. An un-
trained eye would easily mistake the heavily garbed, armored, short-
bearded females for adolescent males. So happened the dearth of
information pertaining to the fairer sex of dwarvenkind. Now, do
female dwarves have beards? Certainly! And male dwarves are darn
glad of it, for they do love to run their fingers through the long, soft
growth of a comely dwarven lass
