1. Hunting for Witches

2. Medieval women and men Reality is always more complex than texts Reality is always more complex than texts Many examples of male-female friendships Many examples of male-female friendships Esp. confessor/spiritual director and holy woman Esp. confessor/spiritual director and holy woman Men defended their female friends, supported cause for canonization, etc. Men defended their female friends, supported cause for canonization, etc. Yet, lots of misogyny in the air Yet, lots of misogyny in the air Theory: projection, fear of sexuality Theory: projection, fear of sexuality Aristotle: the female is a defective male Aristotle: the female is a defective male Bible: women cannot teach men, women brought sin in to world Bible: women cannot teach men, women brought sin in to world

3. Woman considered in theology Could Christ have been born as a woman? Could Christ have been born as a woman? Yes, but… Yes, but… Bad idea I: biology (Aristotle) Bad idea I: biology (Aristotle) Bad idea II: teaching and authority (Bible) Bad idea II: teaching and authority (Bible) Why did God create woman? Why did God create woman? Male is best at friendship Male is best at friendship Therefore, not for companionship (vs. Genesis) Therefore, not for companionship (vs. Genesis) Therefore, for babies Therefore, for babies

4. Theology, cont. Yet, Christianity has always had a liberating and empowering side, too Yet, Christianity has always had a liberating and empowering side, too Promotes male-female communities Promotes male-female communities Baptism: in Christ there is neither male nor female Baptism: in Christ there is neither male nor female Human dignity is grounded in being created in image of God Human dignity is grounded in being created in image of God Applies to both men and women (Gen 1:27) Applies to both men and women (Gen 1:27) Women have been received as teachers and spiritual leaders Women have been received as teachers and spiritual leaders Like Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich Like Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich

5. Witch hunts Roughly 13 th century to 18 th century Roughly 13 th century to 18 th century Highpoint: late 1400s to mid 1600s Highpoint: late 1400s to mid 1600s Concentrated esp. in Germany Concentrated esp. in Germany Est. 50,000 people executed over 500 yrs, in Europe and N. America Est. 50,000 people executed over 500 yrs, in Europe and N. America Ratio of women to men ranged from 2:1 to 100:1 Ratio of women to men ranged from 2:1 to 100:1 Why? Why? Power of fear, directed against “the other” Power of fear, directed against “the other” Not unlike suspicions of Jews for deaths, the Great Plague Not unlike suspicions of Jews for deaths, the Great Plague Fueled by printing press (1450); books and pamphlets against witches had wide distribution Fueled by printing press (1450); books and pamphlets against witches had wide distribution Most charges baseless Most charges baseless Suspicion of folk (gynecological) medicine Suspicion of folk (gynecological) medicine Usually practiced by older women Usually practiced by older women Suspected of making a pact with devil Suspected of making a pact with devil

6. Malleus Maleficarum (“Hammer of evil-doing women”) Written by two Dominican priests (inquisitors) Written by two Dominican priests (inquisitors) Pope had urged people to wipe out perceived witchcraft Pope had urged people to wipe out perceived witchcraft Very popular: second to Bible until 1678 (John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress) Very popular: second to Bible until 1678 (John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress) Not unique: other books like it existed Not unique: other books like it existed Yet, the most misogynistic thing I have read in the history of Christianity Yet, the most misogynistic thing I have read in the history of Christianity Do we really take it seriously? Do we really take it seriously? As image of the worst, most exaggerated perceptions of women (and men) As image of the worst, most exaggerated perceptions of women (and men)

7. Perceptions Weak intellect (like children) and memories Weak intellect (like children) and memories Resist discipline Resist discipline Carnal and lustful (?) Carnal and lustful (?) Witches have sex with devil Witches have sex with devil Defectively created Defectively created Weak in faith Weak in faith Make marriage unhappy (cf. “purgatorial marriages”) Make marriage unhappy (cf. “purgatorial marriages”) Vengeful Vengeful Dangerous Dangerous More powerful than male wizards More powerful than male wizards

8. Response: Christine de Pizan Elite, well-educated Elite, well-educated A widow, had to earn a living by writing A widow, had to earn a living by writing “The complete opposite of what those men claim seems to be the case” “The complete opposite of what those men claim seems to be the case” Scripture disproves it Scripture disproves it Courageous, chaste, faithful women like Susanna Courageous, chaste, faithful women like Susanna Jesus welcomes women, does not speak against them Jesus welcomes women, does not speak against them History disproves it History disproves it Saints include virtuous women Saints include virtuous women Apostles worked with women Apostles worked with women Mary is queen of the city of ladies: defender, protector, and guard of it Mary is queen of the city of ladies: defender, protector, and guard of it She is the teacher She is the teacher Head of female sex; symbol of female virtue Head of female sex; symbol of female virtue Not at all anti-male; just anti-misogyny claimed by some men Not at all anti-male; just anti-misogyny claimed by some men