The Voynich Ninja

Some while ago, I was watching a document about history and medieval ages and in that document they were saying that knowledge of reading and writing was not as usual as it is today even more for women. Only a few studied ones could actually read and write. It was declared that women who can read are witches or something to laugh to.

To be honest, I don't know if that declaration was truthful or not. What are the opinions of others?