#Witchlife: witchy digital spaces. Issue 1 (2nd January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quilty, Emma
• Is Part Of: Journal of contemporary religion. Volume 37:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2022-01-02
• Subjects: Witch -- women -- scripts -- identity -- social media; Religions -- Periodicals; Religions -- History -- 20th century -- Periodicals; 200
• DOI: 10.1080/13537903.2021.2018801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-7903

Abstract

ABSTRACT: What does it mean to live a #witchlife? This article attempts to answer this question by exploring the social media habits and practices of young women who identify as witches. Based on an ethnographic study conducted in Australia, this article presents insights drawn from interviews and participant observation which I conducted. Throughout this article I argue that social media platforms are important spaces where witches create their social identities. A key component of this identity work is the playful and critical ways these young witches contest normative gendered scripts and re-imagine new narratives for themselves . This article identifies and analyses a selection of these scripts and links them to broader patterns in witchcraft communities to 're-weave' dis-empowering narratives, spinning them into new and more elaborate tapestries.