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A review by labyrinth_witch
Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici
5.0
Written with the clarity and urgency for which I appreciate Sylvia Federici, this slim volume of 88 pages outlines in 5 essays the main points of Caliban and the Witch, with particular expansion of her analysis of the word “Gossip” and its use to destroy the powerful collective relationships of women.
Part 1 of this volume outlines her thesis connecting the phenomena of witch-hunting to capitalism. Part 2 explores her thesis in relation to today’s upsurge in witch-hunting across the globe. In so doing, she expertly lays out the political and contextual structures that are intentionally set up to destroy communities in the remaking of social relations, valuation, and concepts of wealth to support capitalist accumulation- of which witch-hunting is only one tool. However, it’s prolific use and the exaggeration of accusations also highlights the inherent value that women have to their communities. Federici comprehensively answers the question, “why violence against women?”
So too, she also sends a call out to feminists, wherever they are, to break their silence on this global phenomena. While she paints a bleak picture, she also includes the heroic ways that women are resisting and how. It centers on women reclaiming the power of their female networks- their covens. Reclaiming so much that we haven been socialized to hate about ourselves as we have been “integrated” into capitalism.
I have never been more proud to be a witch.
Part 1 of this volume outlines her thesis connecting the phenomena of witch-hunting to capitalism. Part 2 explores her thesis in relation to today’s upsurge in witch-hunting across the globe. In so doing, she expertly lays out the political and contextual structures that are intentionally set up to destroy communities in the remaking of social relations, valuation, and concepts of wealth to support capitalist accumulation- of which witch-hunting is only one tool. However, it’s prolific use and the exaggeration of accusations also highlights the inherent value that women have to their communities. Federici comprehensively answers the question, “why violence against women?”
So too, she also sends a call out to feminists, wherever they are, to break their silence on this global phenomena. While she paints a bleak picture, she also includes the heroic ways that women are resisting and how. It centers on women reclaiming the power of their female networks- their covens. Reclaiming so much that we haven been socialized to hate about ourselves as we have been “integrated” into capitalism.
I have never been more proud to be a witch.