Gender-Oriented Analysis of Witchcraft Discourse in Social Media

Abstract

In this article, I delve into the studies of digital religion and female witchcraft, examining Polish witch stereotypes and tracing their evolution from a historical and religious perspective. I portray the harmful image of the persecuted witch within a misogynistic society and contrast it with the contemporary, positive stereotype of an independent, strong, and wise woman. A total of 724 study participants shared their opinions about witches, which were then subjected to sentiment analysis, revealing eight fundamental emotions along with their polarizations. Additionally, gender was juxtaposed with the SD-WISE scale measuring wisdom-related cognitive, reflective, and affective qualities in individuals, including emotional regulation, reflection, empathy, acceptance of diversity, and spirituality. The outcomes indicated that studied women experienced stronger and more positive emotions toward female witches and higher levels of wisdom-related traits typical of witch-related connotations. Male participants demonstrated greater emotional regulation and decisiveness. These findings bear significance for sociologists and researchers exploring gender studies, religion, culture, and the realm of witchcraft.