A rise in feminism that never went away - no matter what naysayers desperately want you to believe - has birthed a new wave for a new generation. From this indestructible surge of female empowerment and self-realization, comes a new rise and interest in witchcraft.
Witch and feminist. The two identities are intertwined - by scholarly and knowledgeable feminists, and even by anti-feminists. Since all recognize their collective power and influence, and they speak so much and for so many women around the world. Their history is rooted and knotted together, going back hundreds and even thousands of years, expanding vast cultures, mythologies, and social systems ancient and new.
Feminists, witches, sluts - they relate to all women exhibiting the least freedom, expression, individuality, difference, and any personality trait outside of patriarchal sensibilities; most prominently relating to their sexuality. These words, these labels: as long as the patriarchy has existed they have been used to shame, blame, demean, scorn, punish, prosecute, dehumanize and even kill women. Now women are taking back those words for themselves, transforming them into positive monikers, to do as they please. Or they are reviving them as the positive female badges of honour they always have been, before patriarchal systems twisted them into pejorative terms to be feared and hated.
Really think about it: men don't have nearly as many gender-specific pejorative and shaming terms used against them as women do, anywhere, anytime.
Therefore, the patriarchy hates and fears all women, whatever they identify as - for no woman ever can be wholly, genuinely submissive, ignorant, lacking in ambition, Stepford Wife-like, and "pure" (unless they choose to be such as a sexual identity), and be truly happy this way; women are oppressed human beings. It is generally agreed upon now that slavery is wrong (unless one is a sad, monstrous troll), so why should misogyny and the pay gap still be acceptable in this age?
Well, the meanings behind "witch", "slut", and "feminist", are changing. Language is powerful; as powerful as any magical spell cast in order to exact change. Women are taking charge, and identifying themselves however they want without judgement. They are the descendants of - and tributes to - the women who were burned at the stake, or had been accused of "evil" sorcery (for doing anything, right down to wearing brightly-coloured clothing and being a midwife), for being themselves.
Witches, sluts, and feminists - and a combination of all three, as some women proudly are - these are everywomen, as Kristen J. Sollee's 'Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive' proves. And it is definitely sex positive.
Witches and feminists are basically the same thing, in expressing and owning themselves in a world that hates and fears them, for their independent thought, will, actions and bonding with other women through their experiences. The freedom to share, to align. Being a witch and a feminist is about sisterhood in the most positive, beautiful light.
Of course there are men and nonbinary persons who identify as witches as well. Masculinity and femininity don't really matter. Witchcraft, like feminism, is for everyone.
I agree with Sollee and other feminists and historians that witch hunts still exist in modern Western countries in more subtle (or not subtle at all, as is the case of the internet and with obnoxious, misogynistic male public speakers and politicians) ways than in the 16th-17th century. History repeats itself in different ways, rooted in the same human fears and irrationality. The author also acknowledges that literal, physical witch hunts persist in countries outside of the West, and she highlights the efforts being made by humanitarian/feminist groups to liberate women and fight for their rights in other countries. No problem, no issue, is more or less important than another, not in feminism.
I admit, being a fiction geek, I went into 'Witches, Sluts, Feminists' for the analyses of portrayals of fictional witches in media alone; not that the other topics Sollee discusses didn't interest me and profoundly educate me. But TV and film (and music; a chapter is dedicated to its history in witchcraft and taking back the witch) are important and powerful tools for positive visualizations of marginalized groups of people and for fighting the patriarchy, due to representation. I love that Sollee recognizes the harmful, negative portrayal of witchcraft and sisterhood in the cult classic and beloved-by-all-witch-converts, 'The Craft', and she sites negative reviews by actual witches that confirm her standpoint. All these years I was made to think that I was the mad one for not liking that movie! And she talks about the Anna Biller film, 'The Love Witch', from 2016, which I had recently viewed and loved - hooray! Plus 'The Witch' from 2015, and Hermione Granger. I don't agree with her praising 2014's 'Maleficent' though, especially in light of her love for the universally-admired Disney villainess from the 1959 'Sleeping Beauty' film.
Views on witches as ugly old evil crones - the matured women who are "past their prime" and therefore men fear and ignore them; witches as pretty young blondes still subservient to men ("don't use your powers too much, ladies, or you'll emasculate men!"); and as feminist icons who do whatever the hell they want without stigmatization: these sure are changing over the years. Like the shapeshifters of yore. Mostly they are shifting for the better.
But why is there hardly any mention of witches as portrayed on TV? I think only 'Bewitched' receives a notification. Did the others get the cutting room floor treatment? as the author says in her introduction that she had to essentially kill her darlings during the editing process of her not-entirely academic but nonetheless passionate book.
In wonderful conclusion, 'Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive' is short at 160 pages, but it is my kind of feminist non-fiction. It is highly accessible, addictive and easy to understand.
History, facts, factions, touring experiences (and why Salem, quite unjustifiably, is the most famous out of all the other witch-prosecuting towns and societies of centuries past), interviews with witches, interviews with gender rights activists and witch/coven organisations I'd never heard of until now, gender positivity, genderfluidity, inclusion, black power and magic, sexual freedom power and magic, anti-victim blaming and anti-slut shaming (obviously), historical and modern day witches, witch fashion over the centuries, witch cultural approbation and "trendy" witch consumerism and capitalism (so the word and cause lose their power and so nothing changes in the patriarchy), and even epigenetic inheritance - all are linked. All are relevant today.
Sometimes 'Witches, Sluts, Feminists' will make you angry and upset. Like there is a chapter on gender politics, and how Hillary Clinton was treated by the masses during the 2016 presidential election: "witch" was used in the literal 16th century god-fearing, baby-eating, man-killing, Satan-fucking sense of the word in order to smear her name constantly and continuously. She was tormented from day one. It didn't matter what she said or did: she was a woman recognized in a position of power, and this terrified grown men everywhere, in every class, in every job. And so revived the modern day witch hunt: which includes smearing, fear mongering, harassment, lies printed... the lengths went to dehumanize Hilary - and still do, even - there is no justifying it. It's plain evil. It made me want to scream until all my blood vessels burst.
There's a theme throughout the book - the link between witch hunts and internet trolling; the spread of lies and misinformation on absolutely anything concerning any and all women. It is the past catching up to the present. It is about misogyny, just in a different generation; it is not an extreme stretch.
But mostly, the little book will give you hope. All women - witches, feminists, sluts, everywomen in every walk of life - will find a beautiful taste of freedom in its pages. It is a spellbook for the informed, modern day feminist/witch, without a lot of actual spells, but it serves as an education grimoire; a confidence booster for the activist in all of us.
A witch who isn't also a feminist is a contradiction - a dangerously ignorant one at that. A feminist who doesn't identify as a witch can at least relate to them and their struggles, and help them out, as they would sex workers and others.
For feminism is freedom. Feminism is taking back power and agency in a name and culture that is tabooed, shunned or ignored by the patriarchy.
For feminism is for everyone. Repeat this. Repeat, repeat, repeat; chant it like you are performing your own ritual magic, until someone higher up listens, and finally accepts change, progress and prosperity, cultivating in a much wider landscape shift.
Everyone, this is for you.
Final Score: 4/5
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