The History of Witchcraft & Women: Magic, rituals & the patriarchy

“What else is woman but a foe to friendship, an inescapable punishment, a necessary evil…” 

So claimed the 15th-century writers of the Malleus Maleficarum, or ‘Hammer of the Witches,’ a handbook for identifying women thought to be conspiring with the Devil. How did women come to be seen this way? And what impact did this publication have on the lasting stereotype of the witch as a harmful, evil woman?

In this talk, Dr Julia Phillips examines the circumstances that created the malevolent female witch and why she became such a powerful figure. We will trace witchcraft from ancient times to today, showing how women were cast as disruptive forces in their communities. The talk concludes by considering the role of women in 21st-century witchcraft, contrasting it with Early modern Europe.

Doors open at 6:45pm, talk starts at 7:30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

Follow us on IG @seedtalks

Dr Julia Phillips is Hons Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the University of Bristol. She received her PhD for her research examining how witches and witchcraft were featured in newspapers in Victorian Britain. Her work has been published in books, academic journals, and popular magazines, and she is a regular presenter at conferences and events. Her primary research interests are the study of witchcraft in the 19th century and the development of modern Pagan Witchcraft in the 20th/21st centuries. 

Testimonials from our guests

⭐ Seed Talks created a friendly and inclusive atmosphere, it was a really wonderful experience. Thank you Seed Talks for facilitating such a powerful and important platform. 100% recommend you check out a Seed Talk near you! - Anna F.

⭐ Seed Talks have done an incredible job at making insanely cool topics easily digestible and enjoyable to learn about for ones self improvement. It's like Ted Talks, but cooler? And more accessible! - Eva W

⭐I've attended a few of your talks over the past few months and have absolutely loved them so first of all thank you so much for bringing joy and understanding to the world of neuroscience. - Joe F

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Camberley Theatre, Knoll Road, Camberley, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App