The recent resurgence of the derogatory phrase “ditch the witch” in Australian political discourse has once again thrust the caricature of the broomstick-riding crone into the national spotlight. Used primarily as a weaponized metaphor to disparage female politicians, these tropes rely on centuries-old visual shorthand—pointy hats, crooked noses, and dark magic—to dehumanize women in power. Historians suggest that while these insults may seem like modern political theater, they are deeply rooted in a foundational document that codified the systemic persecution of women. By examining these connections, we can uncover how ancient anxieties regarding female autonomy continue to manifest in our contemporary media landscape.
To understand the origins of these persistent archetypes, one must look to the 15th-century publication Malleus Maleficarum, or “The Hammer of Witches.” Authored by Heinrich Kramer, this manual served as a chilling blueprint for the identification, interrogation, torture, and execution of those deemed to be practicing witchcraft. It was not merely a scholarly text of its time; it was a lethal catalyst for the witch trials that swept across Europe, resulting in the deaths of thousands of women. By providing a “legal” and theological framework for gender-based violence, the book cemented the association between women, inherent evil, and the necessity of state-sanctioned patriarchal control.
The University of Melbourne’s Archives and Special Collections has strengthened its historical holdings with the recent acquisition of a rare edition of this infamous handbook. This acquisition offers a somber, tangible reminder of how ideas can be weaponized to incite mass hysteria and justify atrocities. For researchers and historians, keeping such texts preserved is essential for understanding the darker impulses of human governance and social control. It serves as an artifact of a period where misinformation—specifically, the conspiratorial belief that women were agents of the devil—was used to authorize extreme violence in the name of moral preservation.
Dr. Charlotte Millar, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Melbourne and author of Witchcraft, the Devil and Emotions in Early Modern England, suggests that the Malleus Maleficarum is a crucial case study for the modern era. According to Dr. Millar, the text provides a terrifyingly clear blueprint of how misinformation can be manufactured and sustained. By manipulating societal fears and presenting them as incontrovertible “truth,” the authors of the Malleus were able to normalize the persecution of a specific demographic. This cycle of fear-mongering and moral panic is not confined to the 1400s; it reveals patterns of behavior that are disturbingly familiar in today’s digital information ecosystem.
The core lesson to be drawn from studying such medieval manuals is the speed and efficacy with which dangerous ideas can spread when they confirm pre-existing societal prejudices. Just as the Malleus capitalized on the fears of the era to paint women as existential threats to the community, modern political rhetoric often employs similar mechanisms to discredit those who challenge the status quo. When female politicians are branded with the “witch” label, the intent is rarely to engage in policy debate; rather, it is intended to trigger a visceral, primal reaction that bypasses reason, effectively “othering” the target to make them socially and politically radioactive.
Ultimately, by analyzing the history of the Malleus Maleficarum, we gain a clearer perspective on the tactics used to police modern gender boundaries. Whether it is through the literal burning of the past or the figurative “ditching” of the present, the underlying goal remains the preservation of traditional power structures through the demonization of women. By tracing this lineage of targeted harassment, Dr. Millar and other historians hope to foster a greater awareness of how language and imagery are used to incite division. If we can recognize the archaic roots of these modern slurs, we may be better equipped to dismantle the misinformation that persists in our political culture today.