Why Were Women Targeted For Witchcraft Persecution Rather Than Men?

Misogyny, or the hatred and discrimination of women, was a pervasive force that fueled witch hunts. Women were often seen as inferior to men and were often blamed for societal ills, such as crop failures, natural disasters, and economic hardships. In rural China, the charge seemed used by a household to get land, money, or other resources from rivals. Women were more likely to be accused of witchcraft than men, with over 70 of those accused of witchcraft being women in Europe and 84 in Scotland.

A new Cambridge University study claims that women were more likely to be accused of witchcraft than men because of their jobs. By the 16th and 17th centuries, there was no discrimination based on gender when it came to witchcraft, suggesting that men’s thinking about women changed. Witch labeling has evolved to get people to conform, but new research suggests an alternative explanation. Women’s working conditions increased the odds of them being suspected as witches, according to an English astrologer’s case files from the early 17th century.

The few Puritan men tried for witchcraft were mostly the husbands or brothers of alleged female witches. Witchcraft accusations act as punishment for those who do not cooperate with local norms, and witch tags mark supposedly untrustworthy individuals. While precise similarities have not been teased out between all the alleged witches, most factors around witchcraft accusations seem to be related to misogyny. Joan of Arc was one of the women who were almost exclusively persecuted as witches. Malleus Maleficarum, a treatise on witchcraft, was recommended by Dominican Inquisitors who recommended hanging witches instead of burning their bodies.

Why were women targeted in the witch trials?

Witchcraft was a prevalent stereotype in early modern society, particularly associated with women. Images of witches often depicted women riding on broomsticks with a pointed hat, a stereotype that persists today. This was due to the church’s teaching that women were weaker and more vulnerable to the Devil’s seductive powers. However, men were also suspected and accused of witchcraft, such as the male witches of Edmonton.

Witches were often accused of witchcraft, leading to an indictment, witnesses, examination, confession, and sometimes torture. Those found guilty were executed. However, not all accusations were believed, as people were suspicious of attempts to pretend to be bewitched or bewitched. For instance, Katherine Malpas’ relatives pretended she was a witch for financial gain.

Witchcraft caused fear within society but also became a normal part of life. Newcomers to a community might be accused of witchcraft due to suspicion from their neighbors, or for making money. The harvest failed, and people became more suspicious of witchcraft. Witchcraft trials became a platform for grievances and disputes to be discussed, and people stood in testimony for or against their neighbors. Understanding the history of witchcraft provides insight into the realities of everyday life for ordinary people in early modern England.

What percentage of witches were women?

From 1638 to 1725, witch trials in New England saw women outnumber men in the accused and executed ranks. Carol F. Karlsen’s “The Devil in the Shape of a Woman” reports that 78 out of 344 alleged witches in New England were female. Men faced accusations of witchcraft because they were associated with accused women, and women held a precarious, mostly powerless position within the religious Puritan community.

Why were women killed in the Salem witch trials?

The Puritan belief in New England culture, particularly among women, led to a majority of people accused and convicted of witchcraft. Puritans believed that women were inherently sinful and more susceptible to damnation than men. They actively tried to thwart attempts by the Devil to overtake them and their souls, viewing women’s souls as unprotected in their weak and vulnerable bodies.

Several factors may explain why women were more likely to admit guilt of witchcraft than men. Historian Elizabeth Reis suggests that some women believed they had truly given in to the Devil, while others might have temporarily done so. However, as those who confessed were reintegrated into society, some women might have confessed to spare their own lives.

Quarrels with neighbors often incited witchcraft allegations, as seen with Abigail Faulkner, who was accused in 1692 for causing harm to her neighbors. Women who did not conform to Puritan norms were more likely to be the target of an accusation, especially those who were unmarried or did not have children.

Cotton Mather, a minister of Boston’s North Church, was a prolific publisher of pamphlets that expressed his belief in witchcraft.

Who was the youngest person jailed for witchcraft?

Dorothy Good, the youngest person to be arrested and jailed in 1692, was accused of practicing witchcraft at the age of four. She was confined to a dungeon-like prison for nearly eight months, initially with her mother and infant sister. However, her comforts were later removed when her sister perished in the prison conditions and her mother was convicted of practicing witchcraft and taken away for execution. Dorothy’s father described her as “chargeable having little or no reason to govern herself”.

Historical accounts of the Salem witch trials often reference Dorothy’s status as the youngest person to be imprisoned and her story with reference to the reparation payment awarded to her father in 1712. Recent research by the Director of Education has revealed more information about Dorothy’s adult life, including her straying and rambling life, and her birth of two children without a husband to claim them as his own.

Why were there so many accusations of witchcraft in Salem?

The Salem Witch Trials, which began in 1692, resulted in the deaths of 25 innocent women, men, and children due to the community’s suspicion and a series of conflicts. The trials have remained a source of reflection and search for meaning for centuries. Today, Salem attracts over 1 million tourists annually, many of whom seek to learn more about the events. The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) holds one of the world’s most important collections of objects and architecture related to the Salem Witch Trials.

From 1980 to 2023, PEM’s Phillips Library was the temporary repository of the state’s Supreme Judicial Court collection of witch trial documents. These legal records, which were returned to the Judicial Archives after modernization, are available to researchers worldwide through a comprehensive digitization project. PEM is committed to telling the story of the Salem Witch Trials in ways that honor the victims and amplify the teachings of wrongful persecution that remain relevant today.

What is a male witch called?

The term “witch” is primarily used in colloquial English, with women being the male equivalent. Modern dictionaries distinguish four meanings of the term: a person with supernatural powers, a practitioner of neo-pagan religion, a mean or ugly old woman, or a charming or alluring girl or woman. The term “witch” was first used to refer to a bewitching young girl in the 18th century, and “witch” as a contemptuous term for an old woman is attested since the 15th century.

What was a common trait of many of the women accused of witchcraft prior to the Salem witch trials?

Many women accused of witchcraft prior to the Salem witch trials were not religious, as they did not attend church. They were young, violated gender norms, were poor, or were landlords. The common trait of these women was not attending church. The question is now asking for an AI-enhanced solution to help identify the common traits of these women. This information can be used to better understand the historical context and the accusations against them.

Why are witches always portrayed as women?

Witches are often portrayed as women due to the stereotype that around 80 percent of witches in Europe were old, widows, and marginalized, making them easy targets. The 15th century in Europe defined a witch as someone who did magic, even if they believed they were doing good magic like healing. The second part of the definition was someone who was a heretic and had forsworn Christianity. Muslims and Jews were not considered witches, as they had to be an apostate to have given up on Christianity.

However, in the Americas, natives were seen as witches doing bad magic, regardless of their conversion status. This change in perception of witches has led to a shift in the portrayal of witches, focusing on women and their vulnerability to being accused of witchcraft.

Why did the girls start accusing people of witchcraft?

The reasons behind the witchcraft accusations among young girls in Puritan society are unclear, but Elizabeth Hubbard was one of the original girls to begin the accusations. She continued to be a leading accuser throughout the summer and fall of 1692. Elizabeth, like most of the other afflicted girls, was detached from her parents and family of birth and lived with her great-aunt Rachel Hubbard Griggs and her husband, town physician Dr. William Griggs.

In 1692, Elizabeth was around 17 years old, making her one of the oldest of the original set of afflicted girls. Along with Elizabeth Parris, Abby Williams, and Anne Putnam, Elizabeth started the accusations with claims of being tortured by specters of certain community members. Carol Karlsen’s research suggests that many of the accusing girls may have behaved as they did due to the uncertainty of their future as orphans. Most of the girls had no monetary or emotional support from direct family members, and the frontier wars had left their father’s estates considerably diminished.

Elizabeth Hubbard, like most of the other accusing girls, was a servant with very dismal prospects for the future. Karlsen suggests that the afflicted used their dramatic possession performances to focus the communities’ concern on their difficulties, which allowed them to gain the respect and attention of the community.

While the exact reasons behind the witchcraft accusations remain unknown, the documents we can read provide insights into the kind of girl Elizabeth Hubbard was.

What role did gender play in the Salem witch trials?

The Salem witch trials were a manifestation of sexism that reflected the belief that women were inherently deviant. This belief was held by the Biblical puritans, who viewed women as susceptible to suspicion.

When did women start getting accused of witchcraft?

Between 1550 and 1700, around 2, 000 witch trials occurred in France, with women accused of witchcraft. While some women admitted to their powers, most women vehemently denied the accusations. The Church often resorted to torture to elicit confessions. Witch hunts were a local phenomenon, but they were affected by larger historical events such as the Protestant Reformation, which led to a decrease in witches accused and publications on the topic.

In France, witch hunts began in the early 15th century and lasted for approximately 300 years. They were more numerous in France than in other European countries or kingdoms, such as the Spanish Kingdom and Italian states. The American colonies also had a dark history, with a noticeable pause from about 1520-1560 before returning with a vengeance in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Before the Scientific Revolution, people looked to the Church to explain the mysteries of the earthly world. Frightening occurrences like paralysis, sudden seizures, or a baby born ill or disfigured left people looking for an explanation and a person to blame. The Church believed in the Devil and considered witches to be their willing disciples. In France, approximately 2, 000 witch trials occurred between 1550 and 1700.

Women targeted were typically marginalized women, such as spinsters, widows, or those without a male protector. Many of the accused, while not convicted, were still subjected to a lifetime of suspicion and fear.

Women employed in healing occupations, such as laying-in-nurses, were in a vulnerable position, as they were often targeted when children or mothers died during childbirth. Researching witchcraft in France can help start with regional sources, as witch hunts and trials were regional in nature.