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

The image of the witch is often portrayed as a female figure, closely tied to the perception of  witchcraft as a female crime. Throughout centuries of European witchcraft history, women were the main targets of accusations, trials, and executions, reinforcing the connections between witchcraft and societal expectations of women. 

When examined through a feminist lens, the history of witchcraft reveals how patriarchal structures have weaponised the fear of witchcraft to control and oppress women. Many feminist scholars argue that the persecution of witches served as a means to enforce gender roles, limit female autonomy, and maintain male dominance. But was this truly the case?

This talk will look at the real-life stories of individuals tried by the Roman Inquisition during the early modern period, exploring the lives, beliefs, and magical practices of both women and men accused of witchcraft by their communities. We will ultimately challenge the idea that witchcraft was solely a female crime. 

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

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Speaker Bio

Dr Debora Moretti is a social historian and archaeologist specialising in the history of magic and witchcraft from the medieval to early modern periods and beyond. She is a Researcher at the University of Hertfordshire on the Alternative Healers project.

Her research broadly explores the history of beliefs in witchcraft and magic practices, as well as the intersections of witchcraft, magic, folk medicine, and material culture, with a particular focus on how European societies understood illness, healing, and the supernatural.

Debora has published extensively in Italian and English, including, most recently, contributions to the Bloomsbury A Cultural History of Magic series, and has co-authored two archaeological monographs. She regularly presents at international conferences and is the organiser of the annual York Magic and Witchcraft Conference series. Debora is also an experienced public speaker, sharing the history of witchcraft and magic with wider audiences. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the Scientific and Organising Committee of the Laboratorio Giuseppe Bonomo, a research centre dedicated to the study of magic and witchcraft.

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