W is for Witch
witch/wiCH/
Noun: A woman thought to have evil magic powers.
Verb: (of a witch) Cast an evil spell on.
Synonyms:
noun. hag - sorceress - harridan - hex - beldam -
enchantress
verb. bewitch - spellbind - enchant - fascinate –
charm
Many of my
friends have embraced the word Witch.
Even the title of my blog shows that I too identify as the word. However what does it really mean to be a
witch? And what do we say about
ourselves when we use it?
Over my
lifetime I've been in many minority categories. I've been called a Dyke, White Trash and Witch. As many in these groups I took these words (reappropriation) and tried
to embrace them as some form of empowerment.
Recently in a discussion group I belong to we talked about reclaiming these
words as a way to take away the oppression that usually goes along with them
and “take back” the power that is lost when a minority is singled out and ridiculed
for a particular attribute.
Even though
I sit and claim to be a proud witch, one of the most hurtful times in my life
was just this past year when family members used it against me. Posting on Facebook the words, you crazy
WITCH still sting like fist to the gut.
Being called names is never a good thing but when someone so close to
you takes something so near and dear and stabs you with it, the pain is
unbearable.
So have we really
taken the word back? Are we really
better off by calling ourselves witches.
No one can really say for sure, it’s a very individual process. I do feel good about using “Witch” as a
descriptive word for myself. I think
that even though it is empowering, there is still that little one inside of us
that is hurt when people attack and words that we've chosen to make us stronger
can still cut deep.
So what do
you think, have you claimed a derogatory word as your own and then had it come
back to bite you? I’d love to hear your
comments.
Until next
time my pretties –
Namaste and
Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
Posts
4 comments
I think of the n-word and black folk. Some of us has used it as an endearing slang term. Like all slang, you can't use it around everyone and I do feel that if you aren't black, you don't have a right to reappropriate this word.
There's also "bitch" which some of us women gladly endear. "Witch" is often used as a substitute for "bitch" and so is derogatory for the general public. No issues with referring to myself as a witch. Yet.
I usualy don't comment on blogs, but I think this might be an useful idea or at least entertaining one.
Next time, someone calls you that (crazy witch), you can answer them by saying "thank you for the compliment". They will shut up (trust me on this one), because:
1- they won't get it (and feel stupid for saying that) or
2- will see that by calling you that, you have sense of humor AND you don't take them seriously. If you say that with a smile, you are the winner and they are not.
When people call other people names? when they feel insecurities about themself or plain angry cause they can't get you to think as they do or disagree with you and can't delvier their arguments
AND they did give you a compliment:
W -witty, wonderful, ...
I - inteligent,
T-tallented, ...
C - charming, creative...
H - human, honest... (be my guest to fill with other words).
*hugs*
This is wonderful I <3 IT!!!
I know this entry is a bit old (I'm way behind on my blog reader), but I still wanted to comment because I've decided to tackle this term on my own blog (post still in draft at the moment) as it applies to myself.
I have called myself a Witch privately for years, but not embraced the term publicly because of the negative associations with the word. I have also been called a witch in a very negative way and handled it very similarly to the way Ela suggested. While it did take the wind out of the sails of the person who said it, and hid my true feelings from them not giving them the hurtful satisfaction they were after, it still hurt.
I do consider myself a Witch and use the term on my blog, but in real life, I'm just not certain I'm ready to deal with the reactions the term is bound to bring out in some people.
I hope that one day we can reclaim that word, along with a few others, but I don't know how close we really are to that day.
Blessings
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