Witches & Wizards- who receives the favourable portrayal?

Since I began contributing to the conversations on LinkedIn I have noticed that some of the topics and issues that are important to the women I meet in domestic violence shelters are not represented in public forums.

Away from the inner circles of the political and academic discourse of gendered violence and women’s safety, women are often having very different conversations about identity, recovery, spirituality and the journey of healing and personal transformation after violence.

An example is where the nature of gendered violence and the politics of FDVS may not be tabled for discussion in our Colouring and Conversation Circles but there can be a heartfelt desire to discuss women’s spirituality and the subtopics such as intuition, Nature and the relationship women have with non-patriarchal systems of worship and identity. 

In a Conversation Circle recently one of our group members made a statement that reflects the extent of the coercive control she had been living under for 15 years:
“He destroyed all of my statues and books. Told me I was a hag and threatened to kill my cat because she was black. I have a strong connection to women’s magic and Mother Earth, I would call myself a witch but that always freaks people out.”

In honour of herStory and the history -HIStory- of the demonising of women as ugly, evil hags and men as commanding, authoritative wizards I have written the following article that explores this gendered representation of women in fairytales and mythology as suspect and men as commanding. 

In some ways it is a re-telling of the story of untrustworthy Eve, the easily tempted temptress, evicted from Mother Natures Garden and into the realms of the all-powerful, all watching, patriarchal control for judgement and control, the place where man has dominions over all of the “kingdoms” whilst the “queendom” of Mother Nature and the natural world is secondary and subject to the command and control of patriarchal demands.

Wizards and Witches,

who receives the favourable portrayal?

The long history of negatively portraying powerful and magical women as evil, crones, and hags has contributed to a deficit, detrimental effect on the perception of modern-day witches and their craft.

These negative portrayals have perpetuated harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about witchcraft, leading to a diminished understanding and appreciation of the true power, strength, and significance of witchcraft in various cultures and belief systems.

By consistently associating witchcraft with evil, ugliness, and malevolence, popular storytelling, literature, books, and movies have reinforced a biased and skewed representation of women’s magic.

This portrayal has contributed to the marginalisation and stigmatisation of women who practice witchcraft or identify as witches.

In reality, witchcraft is a diverse and ancient practice that encompasses a wide range of beliefs, traditions, and spiritual paths. Many modern witches embrace positive and empowering aspects of witchcraft, such as healing, intuition, connection with nature, and personal empowerment. They often emphasize personal growth, community building, and the promotion of harmony and balance in the world.

The negative portrayal of witches as evil and ugly while presenting wizards as authoritative and commanding reinforces gender stereotypes and a power imbalance between men and women. It reinforces the idea that men can possess authority and power in their magical abilities, while women’s magic is associated with darkness and danger. This perpetuates a patriarchal view that undermines the agency and autonomy of women, particularly those who practice witchcraft.

It is crucial to challenge these harmful stereotypes and acknowledge the historical and cultural significance of witchcraft in a more nuanced and accurate manner. Recognising the strength, resilience, and wisdom that can be found within witchcraft can lead to a greater appreciation of women’s power and a more inclusive and diverse understanding of magic and spirituality.

It is important to promote narratives that depict witches in a positive light and celebrate the beauty and strength of their craft, while also acknowledging the historical context that has contributed to the negative portrayal of witches

The negative portrayal of witches as evil and ugly, while contrastingly presenting wizards as authoritative, godlike figures, has significant repercussions.

Wizards often embody images of Zeus or other powerful deities, reinforcing a patriarchal view of magic that places male practitioners in positions of authority and reverence.

This perpetuates a gender imbalance within representations of magical practice, suggesting that men are naturally suited for roles of power while women who practice magic are inherently suspect.

This portrayal undermines the agency and autonomy of women who practice witchcraft and reinforces harmful stereotypes about their capabilities and intentions. Many modern witches, however, embrace positive aspects of their craft, such as healing, intuition, and connection to nature. These practices often focus on promoting balance, harmony, and personal empowerment, contrasting sharply with the sinister portrayal of witches in popular media.

It is essential to challenge these stereotypes and offer more accurate and diverse narratives that reflect the true complexity of witchcraft and its practitioners. Doing so helps celebrate the strength, wisdom, and resilience found in women’s magic, while also providing a more balanced perspective on the role of magic and spirituality in modern society.

The following is a list of the representation of the evil witch in popular culture.

1. The Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz” is depicted as a green-skinned, cackling villain who seeks to harm the main characters and is ultimately defeated.
2. In the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel,” the witch is portrayed as a sinister figure who lures children into her gingerbread house to fatten them up and eat them.
3. The character Maleficent in Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” is a powerful sorceress who curses the princess and is portrayed as a malevolent and vengeful witch.
4. In the book series “Harry Potter,” the evil witch Bellatrix Lestrange is a devoted follower of Lord Voldemort, participating in dark magic and causing harm to others. The school is overseen by the authoritative patriarch, wizard Albus Dumbledore,
5. The classic story “Snow White” features the wicked Queen, who uses her magic powers to transform herself into an old hag and attempts to kill Snow White out of envy.
6. In Roald Dahl’s “The Witches,” the witches are depicted as hideous and evil beings who disguise themselves as normal women and plot to turn children into mice.
7. In the Disney film “Brave,” the main character’s mother is transformed into a bear by a witch, leading to conflict and danger.
8. The character of the White Witch in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is an icy, power-hungry sorceress who brings eternal winter to the land.
9. The evil queen in “Cinderella” transforms into a wicked sorceress, orchestrating events to prevent Cinderella from attending the royal ball.
10. In the children’s book “The Worst Witch” by Jill Murphy, the main character Mildred Hubble faces challenges and mishaps as a young witch in training.
11. In the film “The Craft,” a group of teenage witches becomes consumed by power and uses their abilities for personal gain, leading to negative consequences.
12. The character Ursula in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is portrayed as a sea witch who tricks Ariel into making a dangerous deal.
13. In the popular fairy tale “Rapunzel,” the sorceress Gothel keeps the young princess trapped in a tower, using her magic to control and manipulate her.
14. In the “Shrek” franchise, the Fairy Godmother is depicted as a conniving and manipulative sorceress who tries to separate Shrek and Fiona.
15. In the book series “The Spiderwick Chronicles” by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, the main characters encounter various malevolent creatures, including wicked witches.
16. In the animated film “The Princess and the Frog,” the villainous character Dr. Facilier is a voodoo witch doctor who uses dark magic for his own gain.
17. The character Maleficent, portrayed by Angelina Jolie, is the protagonist in the live-action film “Maleficent” and is initially portrayed as a dark and vengeful fairy.
18. In the novel “The Witches” by Roald Dahl, a young boy discovers a secret gathering of witches who plan to exterminate all the children in England.
19. The character of Queen Jadis, also known as the White Witch, in C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” series is an evil sorceress who seeks to conquer Narnia.
20. In the Disney film “Enchanted,” the evil Queen Narissa transforms into a hag-like sorceress to prevent the main characters from finding true love

Further reading: Medieval studies research blog: https://sites.nd.edu/manuscript-studies/tag/wizard