Hexing the Patriarchy: Why Witches Became a Feminist Icon

Throughout history, witches have been figures of fear, power, and rebellion. The image of the witch has shifted over time, from a scapegoat of patriarchal violence to a symbol of feminist resistance. While the literal burning of witches may be a relic of the past, the mechanisms that fuelled their persecution persist in modern forms. The resurgence of the witch in feminist discourse speaks to a broader struggle against oppression, reclaiming a once-feared figure as an emblem of defiance, autonomy, and collective strength.

The Witch Trials: Fear of Women’s Power

The 1612 Pendle witch trials in England, like many other historical persecutions, were deeply political. The accused, primarily women from marginalised backgrounds, became convenient scapegoats in a society fraught with anxieties about power and control. The rise of Puritanism, fears of Catholic insurrection, and economic instability created a perfect storm for accusations. Women, particularly those who were outspoken, poor, or lived outside patriarchal expectations, were easy targets.

Silvia Federici, in Caliban and the Witch, argues that witch hunts were not merely about superstition; they were a coordinated attack on women’s autonomy at a time when capitalism was reshaping social structures. Midwives and healers were vilified as male-dominated medical institutions sought to monopolise knowledge and authority. The persecution of witches served to reinforce rigid gender roles and punish women who stepped beyond them.

The European and North American witch trials of the 16th to 18th centuries were particularly brutal, with thousands of women executed under the guise of religious and legal persecution. Many historians argue that the fear of witches was deeply tied to anxieties about female sexuality, independence, and economic power. In colonial America, the Salem witch trials demonstrated how hysteria, misogyny, and political strife intersected, leading to the execution of innocent women. The legacy of these trials lingers, shaping how female defiance is still perceived as dangerous or unnatural.

The Persistence of the Witch Hunt

Though the days of literal witch trials are over, the metaphorical persecution of women who challenge the status quo remains strikingly familiar. Women in positions of power, whether in politics, media, or activism, are still vilified in ways that echo historical patterns. Figures like Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Greta Thunberg have been demonised in ways that recall old fears of women who wield influence outside the control of men.

The phenomenon of the "witch hunt" is often co-opted by those in power to claim victimhood while dodging accountability. Donald Trump frequently decried investigations into his misconduct as "witch hunts," twisting a historical narrative of female oppression into a defence for the powerful. However, true modern witch hunts target those who disrupt societal norms—women, queer individuals, and people of colour who challenge established hierarchies.

Contemporary "witch hunts" also play out in cultural and legal battles over bodily autonomy. The backlash against reproductive rights, the criminalisation of abortion in many countries, and attacks on trans rights bear striking similarities to historical witch trials. Just as midwives and herbalists were persecuted for their knowledge and control over women’s bodies, today’s activists and healthcare providers face legal and social consequences for advocating reproductive freedom.

The Witch as a Feminist Icon

Despite this fraught history, the witch has been reclaimed as a symbol of feminist resistance. The feminist group W.I.T.C.H. (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell) in the 1960s used witchcraft imagery as a form of radical protest against patriarchy and capitalism. Their theatrical protests, which included hexing Wall Street and staging "witch-ins," sought to expose systemic inequalities and reclaim the power that witchcraft had long symbolised.

In academic feminism, the witch represents both a historical victim and a powerful subversive figure. Feminist scholars such as Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English, in Witches, Midwives, and Nurses, examine how the medical establishment deliberately erased women’s healing traditions, framing witches as a threat to male authority. This analysis highlights how the witch archetype embodies resistance to patriarchal control over knowledge, medicine, and power.

The witch’s resurgence in popular culture reflects this shift. Shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and American Horror Story: Coven portray witches as powerful and subversive, engaging with themes of persecution and empowerment. Literary works such as Madeline Miller’s Circe and Alexis Henderson’s The Year of the Witching reimagine the witch as a figure of resilience, reclaiming narratives that once sought to demonise them.

The digital age has also fuelled the rise of the modern witch. Online communities dedicated to witchcraft, astrology, and feminist spirituality speak to a growing desire for autonomy and alternative forms of power. In an era of political uncertainty and climate crisis, many turn to the witch as a symbol of self-reliance and resistance against systems that seek to control or oppress.

Conclusion: Casting Spells for the Future

The transformation of the witch from a figure of fear to an icon of resistance reflects broader struggles against patriarchal control. While history sought to silence and punish those who defied societal norms, modern feminism has resurrected the witch as a beacon of empowerment. Understanding the legacy of witch hunts, both literal and metaphorical, reminds us to remain vigilant against the mechanisms of scapegoating and repression. In reclaiming the witch, feminists are not just rewriting history; they are hexing the patriarchy itself.

From the burning stakes of early modern Europe to the online spaces where women reclaim their power today, the witch endures. She is both a warning and a promise, an emblem of the dangers of unchecked authority and the resilience of those who resist it. The next time someone is called a witch, it might not be an insult, but a recognition of a legacy that refuses to be forgotten.