The History of Witchcraft & Women: Magic, rituals & the patriarchy

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Description

The image of the witch is often portrayed as a female figure, closely tied to the perception of witchcraft as a female crime. Throughout centuries of European witchcraft history, women were the main targets of accusations, trials, and executions, reinforcing the connections between witchcraft and societal expectations of women. When examined through a feminist lens, the history of witchcraft reveals how patriarchal structures have weaponised the fear of witchcraft to control and oppress women. Many feminist scholars argue that the persecution of witches served as a means to enforce gender roles, limit female autonomy, and maintain male dominance. But was this truly the case? **Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm** Dr Debora Moretti is a social historian and archaeologist specialising in the history of magic and witchcraft from the medieval to early modern periods and beyond. Debora has published extensively in Italian and English, including, most recently, contributions to the Bloomsbury A Cultural History of Magic series, and has co-authored two archaeological monographs. She regularly presents at international conferences and is the organiser of the annual York Magic and Witchcraft Conference series. Debora is also an experienced public speaker, sharing the history of witchcraft and magic with wider audiences.