Masculinity and Male Witches in Old and New England by E. J. Kent reveals the important role male witches have played throughout history. There is significantly less historical information about male witches, and what is written fuels the idea of toxic masculinity as well as demonizes women. Kent comes to the conclusion that the primary causation of male witch erasure is the historical tendency to associate witchcraft with maleficium---or the employment of dark and evil magic, often by jealous or vengeful women. Men, on the other hand, wore more commonly accused of performing such non-malefic practices as enchanting or conjuring, and were often considered scholars for such a practice.
The idea of gender roles is deeply rooted in not only our …show more content…
J. Kent explores this idea and suggests that male and female witchcraft had different fundamental structures. “Modern scholars understand witchcraft as part of the world of women, not just in terms of the objects of bewitchment, but also in its localization within the household or neighbourhood.” (pg. 72) Kent then describes how witches operated in secret groups--now know as covens--whereas men had the liberty of practicing “occult sciences” in the public sphere. When women had magical power, they were feared, but when men had magical power, they were often respected as scholars. “...Legitimated male witchcraft [was] in the public realm in ways simply not available for female witchcraft.” (pg. …show more content…
Although witchcraft is still considered a predominantly female practice today, men can undeniably practice the craft in the exact respect women can. In fact, it was a man by the name of Gerald Gardner who brought wiccanism, a religion that often goes hand in hand with witchcraft, into the public eye, hence revitalizing the magical arts. It is unfortunate that there are not more recorded accounts of male witchcraft to include in the history of magic. Going forward, the including of all genders and removing unnecessary genderization is key to the continued development of a more progressive and inclusive practice, and is necessary in preventing another witch “hysteria” that took so many lives in the
The idea of gender roles is deeply rooted in not only our …show more content…
J. Kent explores this idea and suggests that male and female witchcraft had different fundamental structures. “Modern scholars understand witchcraft as part of the world of women, not just in terms of the objects of bewitchment, but also in its localization within the household or neighbourhood.” (pg. 72) Kent then describes how witches operated in secret groups--now know as covens--whereas men had the liberty of practicing “occult sciences” in the public sphere. When women had magical power, they were feared, but when men had magical power, they were often respected as scholars. “...Legitimated male witchcraft [was] in the public realm in ways simply not available for female witchcraft.” (pg. …show more content…
Although witchcraft is still considered a predominantly female practice today, men can undeniably practice the craft in the exact respect women can. In fact, it was a man by the name of Gerald Gardner who brought wiccanism, a religion that often goes hand in hand with witchcraft, into the public eye, hence revitalizing the magical arts. It is unfortunate that there are not more recorded accounts of male witchcraft to include in the history of magic. Going forward, the including of all genders and removing unnecessary genderization is key to the continued development of a more progressive and inclusive practice, and is necessary in preventing another witch “hysteria” that took so many lives in the