Yes, I think that there are but they can be very subtle. In many
cultures, the number of women accused of witchcraft is greater than the
number of men. In the modern witch hunt as publicized in the media the
number of older women accused of witchcraft is greater than the number
of men but it is by no means exclusively women.
It can be men and children of both sexes. Last year an Egyptian man was
beheaded in Saudi Arabia for practising witchcraft.
In Brittany even RC priests are not immune from becoming the centre of
witchcraft rumours. They particularly appear to have the power to
transform themselves into animals. I'm not sure to what extent such
rumours are tongue-in-cheek. I particularly like the stories of priests
driving cars or riding bikes in the form of animals.
C
janet ifimust wrote:
> So there are gender implications to take into account, as well...
>
> 2008/6/20 Christopher Kimberley <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>:
>
> In Breton lore, the equivalent of a cunning man was not allowed to
> perform tasks associated with women's roles - such as churning the
> butter - because they would loose their power.
>
>
> C
>
> janet ifimust wrote:
>
> And Odin, who was chastised by Loki for using feminine magic....
>
> I'm not being entirely facetious here - that such a
> chastisement could make it into recorded lore means, I think,
> that it should be taken into account
>
> 2008/6/19 Jezreell <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> <mailto:[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>>:
>
>
> And the spae women, galdr singers, seeresses and so on from
> heathen tradition.
>
> --
>
> Jez
>
> On 19 Jun 2008, at 22:50, Shya/Sue wrote:
>
> Okay, so in the Western European context we have:
> 1. contemporary neo-pagan witches
> 2. the so-called witches of the witch trials
> 3. the sorceresses of ancient times'
>
>
> --
> What do you get when you cross a Zen Buddhist and a Druid?
>
> Someone who worships the tree that is not there.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Dr. Janet Goodall
> Research Fellow
> Institute of Education
> University of Warwick
> http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/aboutus/
>
>
>
>
> --
> Dr. Janet Goodall
> Research Fellow
> Institute of Education
> University of Warwick
> http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/aboutus/
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