What will I learn about: Powerful men frequently misuse the term 'witch hunt' to dodge accountability, ignoring the historical reality that real witch hunts overwhelmingly targeted marginalized women?

Powerful men frequently misuse the term 'witch hunt' to dodge accountability, ignoring the historical reality that real witch hunts overwhelmingly targeted marginalized women.

What will I learn about: Society routinely celebrates male mediocrity and forgives male malevolence, while subjecting highly accomplished women to impossible standards of 'likeability.'?

Society routinely celebrates male mediocrity and forgives male malevolence, while subjecting highly accomplished women to impossible standards of 'likeability.'

What will I learn about: The modern luxury wellness industry capitalizes on patriarchal pressures for women to remain youthful and beautiful, largely distracting from the systemic issues facing marginalized women?

The modern luxury wellness industry capitalizes on patriarchal pressures for women to remain youthful and beautiful, largely distracting from the systemic issues facing marginalized women.

What will I learn about: Male comedians who complain that political correctness is killing comedy are often just using 'cancel culture' as a shield to avoid consequences for their own abusive behavior?

Male comedians who complain that political correctness is killing comedy are often just using 'cancel culture' as a shield to avoid consequences for their own abusive behavior.

What will I learn about: Because men created and continue to perpetuate the patriarchy, they must take active, disruptive responsibility for dismantling it rather than expecting women to fix the system alone?

Because men created and continue to perpetuate the patriarchy, they must take active, disruptive responsibility for dismantling it rather than expecting women to fix the system alone.

The Witches Are Coming

Education on gender politics

Lindy West

★ 3.3 / 5(62 ratings)

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Categories:

Society & Culture

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡How do 1990s Adam Sandler comedies and the public's fascination with serial killer Ted Bundy reveal a societal double standard regarding male mediocrity versus female 'likeability'?
💡Why does the author argue that the modern women's 'wellness' industry actually reinforces patriarchal pressures rather than genuinely empowering all women?
💡In what ways have calls for 'civility' and the 'edgy,' equal-opportunity satire of shows like South Park been weaponized to uphold the political status quo and silence marginalized voices?

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Key Takeaways from The Witches Are Coming

✓Powerful men frequently misuse the term 'witch hunt' to dodge accountability, ignoring the historical reality that real witch hunts overwhelmingly targeted marginalized women.
✓Society routinely celebrates male mediocrity and forgives male malevolence, while subjecting highly accomplished women to impossible standards of 'likeability.'
✓The modern luxury wellness industry capitalizes on patriarchal pressures for women to remain youthful and beautiful, largely distracting from the systemic issues facing marginalized women.
✓Male comedians who complain that political correctness is killing comedy are often just using 'cancel culture' as a shield to avoid consequences for their own abusive behavior.
✓Because men created and continue to perpetuate the patriarchy, they must take active, disruptive responsibility for dismantling it rather than expecting women to fix the system alone.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Witches Are Coming

Mind Map

The Witches Are Coming

Reclaiming the Witch Hunt+

Mediocrity vs. Likeability+

Weaponized Civility+

The Wellness Industry+

Comedy and Accountability+

Normalizing Abortion+

Fixing the Patriarchy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

How has the term 'witch hunt' been misused in the modern era, according to the text?

A. It is used by women to falsely accuse men of crimes they didn't commit.
B. It is used by powerful men to claim victimhood when facing accountability for harassment.
C. It is used by the media to describe the systematic oppression of female politicians.
D. It is used by historians to downplay the severity of the Salem witch trials.

Question 2 of 8

What contrast does the author draw between serial killer Ted Bundy and female politicians like Elizabeth Warren?

A. Bundy was heavily scrutinized for his appearance, while Warren is scrutinized for her policies.
B. Bundy was universally condemned, while Warren receives widespread bipartisan support.
C. Society gave a serial killer the benefit of the doubt regarding his 'charm,' while highly qualified women are criticized for being 'unlikeable.'
D. Both are examples of how the media sensationalizes public figures to generate higher ratings.

Question 3 of 8

Why does the author criticize the plea for 'civility' (e.g., 'Why can't we all just get along?') in political discourse?

A. It is often used as a tool to deflect legitimate criticism and tolerate oppressive behavior.
B. It prevents people from expressing their emotions freely on social media.
C. It forces public figures like Chip and Joanna Gaines to apologize for things they didn't do.
D. It leads to an overly polite society where no real comedy can exist.

Question 4 of 8

According to the text, what is the underlying patriarchal implication of the modern women's 'wellness' industry?

A. Women are naturally more interested in health and holistic medicine than men.
B. Women need to spend more money to achieve the same health outcomes as men.
C. Women's primary value in society is tied to maintaining their youth and physical appearance.
D. Women are more susceptible to pseudoscientific scams than men are.

Question 5 of 8

What is the 'insidious false equivalency' promoted by shows like South Park?

A. The idea that television comedy is just as important as political activism.
B. The suggestion that mocking both sides of the political spectrum means both sides are equally bad.
C. The belief that animated characters can represent real-life marginalized groups accurately.
D. The concept that offensive jokes are harmless as long as they are told by marginalized comedians.

Question 6 of 8

How did comedian Louis C.K. react less than a year after his public apology for sexual harassment?

A. He retired from comedy to focus on advocating for victims of workplace harassment.
B. He returned to the stage and painted himself as a victim of a hypersensitive, politically correct culture.
C. He started a podcast dedicated to educating other men about the dangers of the patriarchy.
D. He sued the women who accused him of harassment for defamation.

Question 7 of 8

What does the author argue the pro-choice movement needs to do to effectively destigmatize abortion?

A. Emphasize that abortion should only be used in rare and extreme circumstances.
B. Focus exclusively on the medical and scientific aspects of the procedure.
C. Drop the caveats and apologies, and speak about it as a normal, non-shameful medical procedure.
D. Ensure that television networks like PBS broadcast more documentaries about the history of Roe v. Wade.

Question 8 of 8

Why are common 'solutions' to gender inequality, such as advising women to negotiate better or carry pepper spray, considered inadequate?

A. They are too expensive for the average woman to implement effectively.
B. They place the burden of fixing the patriarchy on women, sidestepping the men who created and perpetuate the problem.
C. They have been proven statistically ineffective in modern corporate environments.
D. They rely too heavily on government intervention rather than personal responsibility.