From fairy tales and fiction to Tiktok, the spectre of the witch has cast a long shadow over women and popular culture. Witchcraft: Gendered Perspectives traces the history of and evolution of the term “witch” across six centuries.
Tracing the history of witchcraft from the publication of the Malleus Maleficarum to its contemporary representation and reclamation, this volume takes a gendered and intersectional approach to the cultural and historical shifts which have both demonised and democratised the witch online and in public discourse. Amongst these are:
- The witch trials in Scotland, England, and America;
- Literary and screen re-imaginings of the witch;
- The rise of Wicca as an alternative religion.
Witchcraft: Gendered Perspectives is an invaluable resource for graduate and undergraduate students across gender studies, queer history, religious studies, media studies, and European and North American history.
Introduction 1. ‘The Wickedness of Woman’:The Malleus Maleficarum, or “The Hammer of Witches” 2. ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’: The Witch Hunts of Scotland, England, and Salem 3. ‘Garmented in Light’: Reimaginings of the Witch Through 19th Century Poetry 4. ‘An Ye Harm None’: The Rise of Wicca in the 20th Century 5. ‘Normal is Not Necessarily a Virtue’: TV and Movie Witches of the 20th and 21st Centuries 6. ‘The Power to Write Your Own Story’: The Witch as Reclamation in the 21st Century 7. Conclusion
Biography
Jennie Woodard is Assistant Professor of History and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Maine Augusta, USA.
"Grappling with the word witch is always an invitation into complexity and controversy. But Dr Woodard explores it with wisdom and sensitivity, showing to us, the fortunate reader, the witch not just as a symbol of persecution but as a catalyst for social change, healing, and community building in the present day. By navigating the crossroads of gender, sexuality, and power, this book invites readers to reconsider long-held narratives and confront the enduring legacies of misogyny, oppression, and fear. Thoughtfully written and deeply impactful, this book is an essential and enjoyable read!"
- Sarah Robinson, Author of Kitchen Witch: Food, Folklore & Fairy Tale, The Witch and the Wildwood and Witch Country: Seeking the Witch in the British Landscape.
