The Witch Hunts: A Pandemic of Persecution Against Working-Class Women

by Clem Fandango

The centuries-long phenomenon of witch hunts, which plagued Europe and North America, had a disproportionate impact on working-class women. These women, often characterised by their outspoken nature and inability to show subservience to authority, were frequently accused of witchcraft, leading to their persecution and often brutal treatment.

At the heart of these witch hunts was the perception that a sharp tongue and a lack of deference to authority were potential signs of witchcraft. A simple quarrel between neighbours could escalate into a full-blown accusation of witchcraft, particularly if one of the parties was to suffer from illness or livestock problems. Once accused, these women were subjected to a cruel and inhumane process, which often involved their arrest, interrogation, and examination for the "devil's mark."

The examination process was typically carried out by a professional witch pricker, who would use a long-brass pin to probe the accused's body for any signs of the devil's mark. This gruesome procedure was often conducted in public, with the accused stripped naked and paraded before the townspeople. The terror of being thus exposed and subjected to physical abuse in front of a crowd was likely enough to induce a state of numbness, making it easier for the accused to be "discovered" as a witch.

A vivid account of this process survives from Inverness in 1662, detailing the activities of one Mr. Paterson, a self-styled "pricker" who travelled the kingdom seeking out witches. By stripping his victims naked, Paterson would claim to have discovered the "spell spot" on their bodies, which he would then probe with his brass pin. However, the account also reveals that many honest men and women were victimised by this charlatan, with the accused being left traumatised and broken by the experience.

Furthermore, the treatment of imprisoned witches was a critical factor in their persecution. Deprived of sleep, these women were subjected to a form of psychological torture that is now widely recognised as a tool of oppressive regimes. By keeping them awake day and night, their captors aimed to prevent them from having any further contact with Satan, thereby breaking their will and coercing them into making false confessions.