Why were women more likely to be witches than men?

Answer 1

They aren't. There are male witches.

Sometimes male witches are called 'warlocks'

In LaVey Satanism, the male of Witch is Warlock. Other than that, the word Warlock is derogatory and offensive when used for a male pagan Witch.

My opinion is that, in medieval times, more women were persecuted as Witches than men, because of the social attitude of that time towards woman in general. But there were several men also persecuted as Witches in medieval times.

Warlock is considered a derogatory term by most Pagans. Please see the links section for clarification and information.

Answer 2

Because a "witch" is a female term.

The word comes down from Old English, wicce (feminine) and wicca (masculine). Because most of those who were accused of witchcraft, and the few who actually were practioners were female, the feminine stuck. The truth is that while there have been only a minority of male practioners, male witches are still called witches.

The common misconception that a male witch is a warlock perhaps comes more from the old television series Bewitched than any factual basis. Witches are herbalists, potioners. Warlocks deal in necromancy (death magic, conjuring), or sorcery (a specific form of necromancy). Men who are herbalists or potioners would be called a witch.

Answer 3

The short answer is: They weren't.

The long answer is: Both men and women were and are practitioners of witchcraft, and the term "witch" is a term that can be used by either gender. Both men and women were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death on the charge of witchcraft during the "Burning Times."

Women who were opinionated against the patriarchal practices of Christianity, namely the Catholic Church, were often accused of Witchcraft so that the church could remove their opposition. The charges of witchcraft were also extended to spinsters, cranky old ladies, ugly women, and even men and children.

In the era of witch hysteria, to be accused of witchcraft was almost certainly a death sentence even if not found guilty, because the manner in which they "tested" individuals usually led to death. The dunking chair would be one example. Many people took advantage of this to get rid of people they didn't like and as a means to assume their property.

The long standing view towards women in Christianity has been one that women were of lesser value than a man and that they should be subservient to men and their whims. Quite simply, any woman who didn't "fall in line" with the way they expected them to be were viewed as an enemy combatant that had to be eradicated. What better way to garner support for this than to claim them to be an agent of the devil? The vast majority of people who were persecuted under the charge of Witchcraft were likely not even Pagan at all. The reason you hear more about female witches than male ones is because of the contempt held for women in a patriarchal society not because women were more likely to be a witch than a man.

Answer 4

They aren't. The image of an old, ugly woman on a broomstick is not only prejudicial but offensive. The word witch is not gender specific, both men and women practitioners are called "Witch".