In Defence of Witches: Why women are still on trial

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A further problem stems from Chollet's decision to structure her book around what she claims as three "archetypes" from the witch-hunts. There is one chapter on independent women, one on women who choose not to have children and one on women “who reject the idea that to age is a terrible thing”. Chollet's contention is that, several centuries on, these same types of women are having the same charges levelled against them. le rapport de domination qu'il y a encore sur les femmes, avec de belles analogies avec la Terre, et en abordant des sujets comme les violences médicales et des exemples qui retournent l'estomac Mona Chollet's In Defense of Witches is a celebration by an acclaimed French feminist of the witch as a symbol of female rebellion and independence in the face of misogyny and persecution. Rehabilitates the figure of the witch, this dangerously independent, educated and strong woman.” — Slate A source of terror, a misogynistic image of woman inherited from the trials and the pyres of the great early modern witch hunts – in In Defence of Witches the witch is recast as a powerful role model to women today: an emblem of power, free to exist beyond the narrow limits society imposes on women.

In Defence of Witches: The women who dared to simply exist In Defence of Witches: The women who dared to simply exist

Chollet’s discussion about the “childless woman” falls perfectly into this category of female power and is unfortunately just as relevant as it was 500 years ago. Women who disrupted the patriarchal structure by forgoing married life or children were viewed with contempt, labelled as witches, and excluded from society. The vehement condemnation of the childless woman seems to be more about the women who dared to take control of their own lives than anything else. This book has single-handedly done more to quell my anxiety regarding the pressure of motherhood than therapy ever has, bless Mona Chollet.Et lire les destins tragiques et révoltants de ces milliers de femmes accusées de sorcellerie, eh bien figurez-vous que ça m'a donné encore plus de force. Je suis habitée d'une colère qui me donne envie de m'investir encore plus dans ma lutte féministe, qui me donne envie d'encore plus de sororité. A journalist who, in the early 1970s, became an ardent defender of women’s rights, Gloria Steinem has always offered her critics a good run for their money. First, her beauty and her many lovers give the lie to the old chestnut that feminist protest only masks the bitterness and frustration of plain Janes whom no man has done the honor of rescuing from the shelf. What’s more, the full and dynamic life Steinem has led and leads today, a whirlwind of travels and new vistas, of activism and writing, of love and friendship, seriously complicates the picture for those who believe a woman’s life means nothing without partnership and motherhood. To a journalist who asked why she wasn’t married, Steinem gave the justly celebrated reply: “I can’t mate in captivity.” Celebrated feminist writer Mona Chollet explores three types of women who were accused of witchcraft and persecuted: the independent woman, since widows and celibates were particularly targeted; the childless woman, since the time of the hunts marked the end of tolerance for those who claimed to control their fertility; and the elderly woman, who has always been an object of at best, pity, and at worst, horror. Examining modern society, Chollet concludes that these women continue to be harrassed and oppressed. Rather than being a brief moment in history, the persecution of witches is an example of society’s seemingly eternal misogyny, while women today are direct descendants to those who were hunted down and killed for their thoughts and actions. l'indépendance des femmes, et comment notre refus de se sacrifier attire immédiatement des réprobations

In Defense of Witches - Google Books In Defense of Witches - Google Books

Chollet takes this structure and traces a direct pipeline between the mass-murder of women during the European witch trials and the reasons why women today are still being scrutinised for personal choices, albeit in subtler, yet more insidious ways. If you enjoyed Caroline Criado Pérez’s Invisible Women (and by “enjoyed” I mean, if your definition of a jolly good time is reading infuriating facts that reveal how inherently misogynistic society is), then In Defence of Witches is a book for you. Dans le chapitre sur la maternité, elle évoque des femmes qui regrettent d'être mère mais qui aiment leurs enfants, de mémoire ça dit quelque chose comme "j'aimerais pas que mes enfants disparaissent, juste je ne supporte pas le rôle de mère attribué par la société", et en lisant ça je me suis dit "ah chouette, un chapitre genre la parentalité sans la maternité" mais non, elle change de sujet et c'est plus abordé! le désir de ne pas avoir d'enfant, en réfutant ces idées qui disent que la femme a un désir inconscient d'enfanter et les différences de traitements hommes/femmes sur ce sujet One day, in March 1990, on CNN, Larry King is hosting Gloria Steinem, the American feminist superstar. A member of the TV audience calls from Cleveland, Ohio. Her tone is warm; we assume this is a fan. But we soon realize this is not the case. “I really believe that your movement was a total failure…” the silky voice goes on. “You are one of the primary causes of the downfall of our beautiful American family and society today. A couple of questions. I’d like to know if you’re married … If you have children.” Twice, an unruffled Steinem gallantly replies, “No.” Interrupted by the presenter, who diplomatically attempts to sum up her case, the anonymous avenger looses her final bombshell: “I have said for the last fifteen years that Gloria Steinem should rot in hell.”1 A smart feminist treatise reclaiming the witch and her radical way of life as a path forward for women…. Chollet’s informed and passionate treatment will appeal to readers looking for more substance amid the witch trend that’s otherwise been largely commodified and often scrubbed of its feminist origins.”—Jenna Jay, Booklist

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