The Salem Witch trials are known as a dark and regrettable time in history, demonizing and killing many innocent people, specifically women. 70% of the people put to death during the trials were women. This is one of the many examples of discrimination against women in early modern civilization. The reasoning behind this: women were seen as more susceptible to the devil’s powers compared to men.

      Xenophobia, the distrust of outsiders, is clearly illustrated throughout the trials. During this historical time period, being an outsider was an unfortunate societal placement which could potentially result in death. Regrettably, these people were unlikely able to change where they belonged in the view of society.

      Witchcraft allegations incited paranoia within society, and it continued to grow with the increasing rate of “devil’s victims”. Although you may be picturing the stereotypical “witch” with the broom, pointy hat, and green skin, these innocent people were regular men and women who were killed just because they were seen as different. These differences were likely caused by sickness and/or mental illness, which the victims weren’t able to control.

      The accusations were rooted in people having “fits,” likely caused by diseases from fungus-infected rye, neurological disorders, and psychological manipulation, but blamed on the supernatural. Furthermore, this tragic event could have been prevented with better health remedies and doctors.

      Circling back to women being the target of these disturbing murders and accusations, the extreme sexism that took place during the time period of the trials makes a clear appearance. Puritan society was completely brainwashed into believing that women were debilitated and underneath men in the social hierarchy. Being named a witch in the 1600s was a derogatory term that was used to blame someone for doing something that contrasted with social norms at the time.

      Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women, a text that harshly criticized women, was a pamphlet published in 1615 by Joseph Swetnam. He describes his pamphlet as a “trunk full of torments against women,” foreshadowing his incoming judgments. He claims, “For then her breast will be the harborer of an envious heart, and her heart the storehouse of poisoned hatred; her head will devise villainy, and her hands are ready to practice that which their heart desires. Then who can but say that women sprung from the Devil? Whose heads, hands, and hearts, minds and souls are evil, for women are called the hook of all evil because men are taken by them as fish is taken with the hook.” He states that men fall victim to women’s evil “powers”, basically blaming all of the inadequate actions of men on women.

      With this misogynistic pamphlet being published, it fueled the fire of resentment for women, potentially aiding the future trials that would soon take place. The influence of Joseph Swetnam supported the idea that women are weak and frail, describing them as villains.

Fortunately, in 1702, the Trials were declared unlawful, kick-starting the restoration of the names of the victims accused. 265 years later, in 1957, Massachusetts formally apologized for the tragedies of 1692. More recently, in 2022, the last name from the Salem Witch Trials was pardoned.

Although the Trials were eventually declared inhumane, there is no excuse for the tragic events that occurred and innocent lives that were lost. Take these observations as a lesson to never let the fear of others drive you to hatred, and always view people through the lens of equality.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/

https://tigernewspaper.com/misogyny-that-manipulated-witch-hunts-still-persists-today/

https://pages.uoregon.edu/dluebke/WesternCiv102/SwetnamArraignment1615.htm