Lewd women and wicked witches : a study of the dynamics of male domination / Marianne Hester.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hester, Marianne, 1955-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Men--Sexual behavior.

Men.

Dominance (Psychology).

Sex discrimination against women.

Power (Social sciences).

Social control.

Witchcraft--England--History.

Witchcraft.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (239 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In the sixteenth century and seventeenth centuries it was women who were almost exclusively persecuted as witches. However, the witch craze has been subjected to surprisingly little feminist analysis. In Lewd Women and Wicked Witches , Marianne Hester reviews and develops revolutionary feminist thinking. Accordingly, she shows how witches can be seen as victims of the oppression of a male dominated society. Concentrating on English source material, the author shows how witch-hunts may be seen as an historically specific example of male dominance. Relying on an eroticised construct of women's inferiority, they were part of the ongoing attempt by men to maintain their power over women. In the sixteenth century and seventeenth centuries it was women who were almost exclusively persecuted as witches. However, the witch craze has been subjected to surprisingly little feminist analysis. In Lewd Women and Wicked Witches , Marianne Hester reviews and develops revolutionary feminist thinking. Accordingly, she shows how witches can be seen as victims of the oppression of a male dominated society. Concentrating on English source material, the author shows how witch-hunts may be seen as an historically specific example of male dominance. Relying on an eroticised construct of women's inferiority, they were part of the ongoing attempt by men to maintain their power over women.

Contents:

chapter 1 The introduction

The dynamics of male domination

chapter 2 From men partially to men primarily responsible for women's oppression

chapter 3 Men as primarily responsible for women's oppression

chapter 4 Towards a revolutionary feminist approach

Male sexual violence against women

chapter 5 A revolutionary feminist approach

Male sexuality as social control of women

chapter 6 The early modern witch-hunts I

chapter 7 The early modern witch-hunts II

chapter 8 The accused and the accusations against them

chapter 9 The conclusion.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [214]-230) and indexes.

ISBN:

1-134-91137-8

0-203-40927-2

1-280-32233-0

9780203409275

OCLC:

275231283