Some years ago a friend of mine did her MA on Welsh song and I think the general category was 'love songs'. However, she did a presentation to the Folk Song Society on the French songs of "La Femme d'Esprit" (if I got the French right) and her counterparts in Welsh song. These were songs about, obviously, spirited women like, for instance, the Maid in 'Maid on the Shore' and like. I guess there must be enough of them in French song to be considered a category all on their own.

siân