Feb 23 2009
Those Sexy, Wicked Witches
People. In one breath, some people will assume it is weird/Satanic/bizarre to practice witchcraft or anything resembling it. Imagine being a professionally dressed woman, telling a mainstream fellow that you happen to be pagan. The reaction is usually rather odd–a combination of surprise, horror, and a sudden lack of interest.
That same guy, however, might really be a fan of a show like Buffy: the Vampire Slayer. He might even like vampire porn (yes, there is vampire porn). Think about all the guys that are not goth whatsoever, but like goth chicks or Hollywood portrayals of teenage witches in short skirts.
Why is it that witches have this type of appeal with men and in general? I think it’s due to several things, most notably the fact that mainstream religions misunderstand paths like Wicca and forbid such associated practices.
Just like other women, pagan females sometimes have insecurities about themselves and their bodies. However, most pagan paths offer the opportunity of self-empowerment for women either in neopagan equality or in ritual. This empowerment is reflected in one’s attitude, sometimes, and that’s overall a very attractive thing. Being outside of the mainstream is also ‘different,’ which can be attractive to certain guys.
However, there’s still this nagging thing. It’s a stereotype. In one breath, some men might say that paganism is ‘wrong, creepy, and Satanic,’ and in another fantasize about being with a pagan for any of the aforementioned reasons. I’ve heard the same things about all types of people–someone making a racist comment about Asians and then completely fetishizing and/or worshipping an Asian woman.
What’s the reason for this complexity? I certainly don’t know.
In the Sookie Stackhouse book series (fiction which discusses vampires in the United States), author Charlaine Harris details a vampire subculture. In the novels, vampires have a real hierarchy and subculture, but also a facade for most humans. They have vampire clubs such as Fangtasia, where tourists and humans with stereotypes go to get their fixes (while vampires profit off of them by charging cover and high drink prices).
I guess at some point I feel I need to stop treating the subject so seriously. I don’t usually feel persecuted on a daily basis (at least now that Bush and his cohorts are gone), and when I do experience discrimination, it’s often due to age, gender, or even height–not my spiritual choice. I live on the East Coast and I work in publishing–eccentricity is expected and appreciated in most instances.
If you ever want to give in to the stereotype like the vamps who run Fangtasia, consider the outfit below.
I know I will!
Choosing anything in life that deviates from ‘normal’ behaviour (e.g. witchcraft) requires self-confidence, strength and independence (all qualities I admire and find attractive).
I also think that there’s something attractive about characters that aren’t perfect and either stray from the accepted ideal or have some flaw - it makes them more genuine and believable - Hollywood heros are not for me. People need some ‘bad’ in them as well as some ‘good’ - too much of either is no fun. In Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, naughty Faith is hotter than do-gooder Buffy.
I think anyone who has conflicted love/hate feelings about a group of people is just afraid of other people’s reactions to their feelings of attraction, so they express hate as a way to cover it up. I think it’s quite sad if people aren’t honest with themselves - they are obstructing their own happiness.