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

Join Oxford Professor Diane Purkiss for a Live Online Talk: The Real History of Witches & What It Reveals About Women Today Ever wondered why the "witch" remains such a powerful and controversial figure? Oxford University Professor Diane Purkiss reveals the surprising truth behind witch hunts – and what this dark chapter of history tells us about modern feminism, ageing, and the forces that still pit women against each other. With a live Q&A. What you'll discover... The witch is a deeply important and appealing figure, and her story is more relevant than ever. Witches weren't evil, and they certainly didn't wear pointy black hats. Instead, society has long used the idea of the witch as a dumping ground for everything it fears or hates in women. Witches are old – too old to be sexy, too old to bear children – and even today, we stigmatise older women as "problematic" or "ugly". Exploring the true history of witches reveals much about ourselves, how we got here, and how we can change. But who hunted witches? Surprisingly, it wasn't mostly men. It was often younger women, pressured by patriarchal systems to blame older women in exchange for temporary favour, that disappeared as they aged. This history still echoes today, as generational divides between women persist and even worsen. Learning about witches reminds us of the importance of solidarity between generations – why we must stand together to break free from these old patterns.