We Witches - GeekGyrl

This recent Halloween, I found myself reflecting on the women—and a few men—in my family tree who were accused of witchcraft. Among them, two were executed, and others were falsely imprisoned, stigmatized, or became social outcasts.

The persecution of these and other women echoes some of the far-right’s current attitudes and policies toward women in the U.S. today, particularly around control, the suppression of autonomy, and rigid gender expectations. Just as those accused of witchcraft were controlled, punished, and sometimes executed, today’s far-right often pushes for policies that limit women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, forcing some women toward death.

The far-right seeks to reinforce outdated gender roles, expecting subservience and discouraging independence. Women who pursue careers, political ambitions, or nontraditional family roles are often criticized, much like those accused of witchcraft centuries ago. They paint feminism as dangerous, casting feminist ideals as a threat to “traditional” values. They vow to protect us when they are the ones from whom we need protection.

The lives of women—of we “witches”—are on the line. With every vote, we fight to take back our country, our rights, and our bodies from those who seek to control them. This is not a time for hesitation, for wavering in the face of what’s at stake. We don’t have the luxury of sitting on the fence or of fearing what others, even those closest to us, might think. Standing up for yourself, for your future, and for every woman out there is worth more than the silence that keeps us bound. Voting for change might not be the first time you’ve had to stand up quietly, but it can be the first time you reclaim that power with the force it deserves.

We are done with apologies. We are done with hiding. It’s time to make it clear that we will not be pushed back into the shadows. Women are done being told to be “good” or “quiet.” The time has come for us to rise, to fight, and to vote like our lives depend on it—because they do. Every vote is a spell cast for freedom, for autonomy, for a future where we don’t have to be afraid of our own strength. We owe it to every woman before us and every girl who comes after.

“No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her sex.” – Susan B. Anthony

“I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard… We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” – Malala Yousafzai

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

“Call us witches, if you like. We’re the women you couldn’t burn. We’re the women who survived.” – Mona Eltahawy