Seed Talks: The History of Witchcraft and Women

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

Uncover the fascinating history of witchcraft and how patriarchal ideas shaped the image of a witch. Followed by Q&A.

“What else is woman but a foe to friendship, an inescapable punishment, a necessary evil…” 

So claimed the 15th-century writers of the Malleus Maleficarum, or ‘Hammer of the Witches,’ a handbook for identifying women thought to be conspiring with the Devil. How did women come to be seen this way? And what impact did this publication have on the lasting stereotype of the witch as a harmful, evil woman?

In this talk, Dr Julia Phillips examines the circumstances that created the malevolent female witch and why she became such a powerful figure. We will trace witchcraft from ancient times to today, showing how women were cast as disruptive forces in their communities. The talk concludes by considering the role of women in 21st-century witchcraft, contrasting it with Early modern Europe.

Doors open at 6:30pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Speaker Bio:

Dr Julia Phillips is Hons Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the University of Bristol. She received her PhD for her research examining how witches and witchcraft were featured in newspapers in Victorian Britain. Her work has been published in books, academic journals, and popular magazines, and she is a regular presenter at conferences and events. Her primary research interests are the study of witchcraft in the 19th century and the development of modern Pagan Witchcraft in the 20th/21st centuries.