Blog 4: Sexism in Witchcraft
Soaring through the skies on a broomstick, the prevalent depiction of a witch has long been ingrained as a predominantly female figure, so much so that it has become the default Halloween costume for women and girls alike. However, delving into the origins of this gendered stereotype unveils a historical narrative shaped by medieval perspectives on magic and the distinct behaviors attributed to men and women accused of engaging in the "crime" of witchcraft.
Examining a specific facet of the witch's portrayal in popular culture, namely her association with flight, reveals a shift in attitudes from the early to the later Middle Ages. In the 11th century, Bishop Burchard of Worms remarked on certain sinful beliefs: "Some wicked women, turning back to Satan and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe that in the night hours they ride on certain animals with the pagan goddess Diana and a countless multitude of women, and they cross a great span of the world in the stillness of the dead of night." According to Burchard, these women were essentially in a state of sleep, yet their minds were ensnared by the devil, deceiving them through vivid dreams. He further asserted that only the "stupid and dim-witted" would genuinely believe in the reality of these nocturnal flights.
However, as the 15th century drew to a close, perspectives on magic underwent a substantial shift. Although notions of women soaring through the skies persisted, the perception evolved from one of skepticism to one infused with fear. The magical night flight became intricately linked with clandestine gatherings referred to as the "witches' sabbath," involving sinister activities such as infant killings, participation in orgies, and devil worship.
Additionally, although men are also featured in the infamous 15th-century witch-hunting manual Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of the Witches), the work is widely acknowledged for its deeply misogynistic undertones. It propagates the idea that women's perceived lack of intelligence rendered them susceptible and subservient to demons. One section explicitly states: "Just as through the first defect in their [women’s] intelligence they are more prone to abjure the faith; so through their second defect of inordinate passions … they inflict various vengeances through witchcraft. Wherefore it is no wonder that so great a number of witches exist in this sex." By the conclusion of the Middle Ages, a prevailing view emerged, portraying women as particularly susceptible to witchcraft.
Sexism, specifically within the history of witchcraft, is something that we have talked about in great lengths in this course. I also believe this recurring theme has been represented well in a lot of the Witches in Popular Media presentations. We have discussed the sexualization of withces, the sexism within the Witch Trials, and many quotes from Malleus Maleficarum, all of which lead to intellectual and deep conversations. Overall, I believe being a class of all women has added another layer to these types of conversations, and I have found these discussions to be the most interesting.
Examining a specific facet of the witch's portrayal in popular culture, namely her association with flight, reveals a shift in attitudes from the early to the later Middle Ages. In the 11th century, Bishop Burchard of Worms remarked on certain sinful beliefs: "Some wicked women, turning back to Satan and seduced by the illusions and phantasms of demons, believe that in the night hours they ride on certain animals with the pagan goddess Diana and a countless multitude of women, and they cross a great span of the world in the stillness of the dead of night." According to Burchard, these women were essentially in a state of sleep, yet their minds were ensnared by the devil, deceiving them through vivid dreams. He further asserted that only the "stupid and dim-witted" would genuinely believe in the reality of these nocturnal flights.
However, as the 15th century drew to a close, perspectives on magic underwent a substantial shift. Although notions of women soaring through the skies persisted, the perception evolved from one of skepticism to one infused with fear. The magical night flight became intricately linked with clandestine gatherings referred to as the "witches' sabbath," involving sinister activities such as infant killings, participation in orgies, and devil worship.
Additionally, although men are also featured in the infamous 15th-century witch-hunting manual Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of the Witches), the work is widely acknowledged for its deeply misogynistic undertones. It propagates the idea that women's perceived lack of intelligence rendered them susceptible and subservient to demons. One section explicitly states: "Just as through the first defect in their [women’s] intelligence they are more prone to abjure the faith; so through their second defect of inordinate passions … they inflict various vengeances through witchcraft. Wherefore it is no wonder that so great a number of witches exist in this sex." By the conclusion of the Middle Ages, a prevailing view emerged, portraying women as particularly susceptible to witchcraft.
Sexism, specifically within the history of witchcraft, is something that we have talked about in great lengths in this course. I also believe this recurring theme has been represented well in a lot of the Witches in Popular Media presentations. We have discussed the sexualization of withces, the sexism within the Witch Trials, and many quotes from Malleus Maleficarum, all of which lead to intellectual and deep conversations. Overall, I believe being a class of all women has added another layer to these types of conversations, and I have found these discussions to be the most interesting.
Thanks for this blog post and especially for your most interesting research on witches flying at night and the shift in beliefs from the Middle ages to the Renaissance. In the context of sudden social and cultural shifts, there's much greater fear and less skepticism of witches in the Renaissance. Ironic that the movement that led to the rise of modern science was also so deeply fearful of witches and magic and so misogynistic.
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