In Defense of Witches by Mona Chollet
Women, Misogyny and the Witch Hunt Legacy
Mona Chollet’s In Defense of Witches is not a history of the witches' trials but a bold and brilliant examination of how women’s autonomy has been demonised and continues to be constrained. Chollet argues that the witch, far from being a relic of the past, remains a powerful symbol of resistance against a patriarchal society that continues to fear and vilify independent women.
Chollet begins with a central premise that resonates throughout the book: the witch symbolises a woman free of domination and societal constraints. This archetype—often independent, unmarried, childfree, and knowledgeable—represents everything that patriarchal societies have sought to control or extinguish. The witch hunts, she argues, weren’t just medieval madness; they were deliberate attempts to suppress female independence – a legacy that continues to echo in modern misogyny.
Misogynists, as ever, appear to be obsessed with the figure of the witch. “Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians,“ the American televangelist Pat Robertson railed as recently as 1992, in a speech that remains famous (and prompted many to respond, “Where to we sign up?
During the 2016 US presidential campaign, the hatred toward Hilary Clinton far outstripped even the most virulent criticisms that could legitimately be pinned to her. She was linked with “evil” and widely compared to a witch, which is to say that she was attacked as a woman, not as political leader. After her defeat, some of the Wall Street traders began chanting "Lock her up!,and someone shouted “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead.”
From the vilification of Hillary Clinton to the enduring societal pressures for women to conform to traditional roles, the book illustrates how the fear of strong, self-sufficient women persists in both subtle and overt ways. Particularly striking are Chollet’s insights of how the media perpetuate these fears, often through portraying powerful women, as threats or deviants, perpetuating age-old biases.
One of the book’s most compelling points is its exploration of how capitalism intertwined with the subjugation of women. Drawing on the work of Silvia Federici, Chollet argues that capitalism’s rise depended on both the exploitation of marginalised groups, often labelled as “inferior,” and the systematic dismantling of women’s freedoms. The displacement of women healers by male-dominated medical systems serves as a stark example of how the professionalisation and institutionalisation of medicine, particularly from the 19th century onward.
For centuries, women healers were the cornerstone of community care, specialising in childbirth, reproductive health, and holistic well-being. But as male-led institutions took charge, this specialised knowledge was often disregarded, replaced by approaches that ignored the complexities of women’s health. This oversight in history not only weakened the quality of care but also created long-lasting inequalities. Even today, women’s pain is often ignored, their symptoms misunderstood, and their perspectives overlooked in medical research and treatment.
Chollet critiques the societal obsession with women’s selflessness, pointing out that women’s identity is still tied to their roles as caregivers. This creates an environment where female independence is viewed with suspicion. She also highlights the marginalisation of ageing women – who having ceased their caregiving roles as caregivers, frequently find themselves overlooked or ignored.
What makes In Defense of Witches stand out is its mix of meticulous research and engaging prose. Chollet doesn’t just recount history; she confronts it, asking readers to reconsider their own biases and attitudes. Her call to reclaim the witch as a symbol of defiance is powerful. As the famous slogan goes, “We are the grand-daughters of the witches you weren’t able to burn,”
The book is not without its limitations. Chollet perspective is mainly European, though it does touch upon the United States as well. Obviously, the issue of women’s subjugation is global with variations across different cultures, these limitations are minor flaws in an otherwise groundbreaking work.
For anyone interested in the cultural impact of the witch hunts, or the persistent echoes of misogyny, this book is essential reading. It’s a reminder that while society has made strides, the ghosts of the past still haunt us—and the witches of today are ready to fight back.
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