of all of those suspected of witchcraft onto the branches of a sal tree; the name on the branch that withers is condemned as a witch. Rice is also used by wrapping the grain in a cloth labeled with each of the names and placed inside a nest of white ants. The witch is identified by whichever bag the ants eat. An even deadlier method of identifying witches is forcing women to drink potions made of poisonous herbs to prove that they were not witches (McCoy 2014). Physical features such as old age, hunchbacks, hair color, and skin color were also used as justifications for accusing women of witchcraft and are believed to be physical representations of deviant behavior (Chaudhuri 2012).
Lata, 29 years old, said, “Who knows why they accused mother of witchcraft. Maybe . . . because she had a hunchback.” Bila, a 33-year-old female, said, “I do not understand why this happened . . . they said my mother’s hair was as white as a witch’s. Does having white hair make one a witch? She was a good woman.” For Dulari, her trauma started after her neighbor was told by the janguru that a “dark woman” caused his wife …show more content…
The encouragement docile temperaments enforces oppressive male dominance over women and expected gender roles (Chaudhuri 2012). “The belief in the existence of witches and the efficacy of witchcraft could be almost exclusively seen among the patrilineal agricultural tribal communities (like the Mundas, Hos, and Santhals) while it was remarkably absent among -the nomadic foraging communities (like the Birhor or the Erenga Munda)" (Sinha, 2007, p. 13). Also, of importance to note, witch accusations were rarely made against strangers and were mostly made against neighbors and relatives; witch hunts were directed at other members of the same social system (Chaudhuri
Lata, 29 years old, said, “Who knows why they accused mother of witchcraft. Maybe . . . because she had a hunchback.” Bila, a 33-year-old female, said, “I do not understand why this happened . . . they said my mother’s hair was as white as a witch’s. Does having white hair make one a witch? She was a good woman.” For Dulari, her trauma started after her neighbor was told by the janguru that a “dark woman” caused his wife …show more content…
The encouragement docile temperaments enforces oppressive male dominance over women and expected gender roles (Chaudhuri 2012). “The belief in the existence of witches and the efficacy of witchcraft could be almost exclusively seen among the patrilineal agricultural tribal communities (like the Mundas, Hos, and Santhals) while it was remarkably absent among -the nomadic foraging communities (like the Birhor or the Erenga Munda)" (Sinha, 2007, p. 13). Also, of importance to note, witch accusations were rarely made against strangers and were mostly made against neighbors and relatives; witch hunts were directed at other members of the same social system (Chaudhuri