Witch hunts are all about women

Politicians who cry “witch hunt!‘” when confronting a purportedly baseless accusation are misunderstanding a d... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 23 October 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Catesby Holmes] A note from... Catesby Holmes Global Affairs Editor Politicians who cry “witch hunt!‘” when confronting a purportedly baseless accusation are misunderstanding a dark chapter of American history. Witch trials like those in Salem, Mass., rarely – if ever – hurt powerful men. They were all about keeping women powerless in the Puritans’ rigid, patriarchal society, writes Bridget Marshall, who teaches a course on colonial-era witch trials at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Of the 344 alleged “witches” in New England from 1638 to 1725, 78% were women. “When women stepped outside their proscribed roles” – by being too rich, too poor, or not having kids, for example – “[they became targets](.” Also today: - [From community college to selective universities]( - [Oil companies move slowly on a low-carbon future]( - [Studying online posts for clues to mass shooters]( Top story Seventy-eight percent of the people executed for witchcraft in New England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries were women. Jef Thompson/Shutterstock.com [Most witches are women, because witch hunts were all about persecuting the powerless]( Bridget Marshall, University of Massachusetts Lowell Powerful men often proclaim baseless accusations to be a 'witch hunt.' But American witch trials have always targeted a persecuted minority: women. Politics + Society - [They’re not all racist nut jobs – and 4 other observations about the patriot militia movement]( Hollee S. Temple, West Virginia University; John Temple, West Virginia University The popular perception of right-wing patriot militia members is that they are racist, violent and crazy. The authors of a new book about them say that's not the whole story. - [Analyzing online posts could help spot future mass shooters and terrorists]( Neil Shortland, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Allyssa McCabe, University of Massachusetts Lowell Researchers look for signals that might distinguish people who are upset and ranting online from those who intend to do real physical harm. Education - [Community colleges open the door to selective universities]( Justin Ortagus, University of Florida; Xiaodan Hu While selective universities may be elusive for many students, going to a community college first can represent an alternative way to get in, new research has found. Environment + Energy - [Oil companies are thinking about a low-carbon future, but aren’t making big investments in it yet]( Lewis Fulton, University of California, Davis; Daniel Sperling, University of California, Davis How are oil companies positioning themselves for a post-carbon world? So far, cautiously. Health + Medicine - [5 tips for surviving in an increasingly uncertain world]( Jelena Kecmanovic, Georgetown University Worried about an uncertain future? A psychologist offers tips to overcome the stress. Science + Technology - [Sulfur pollution from coal and gas is insanely bad – but a new chemistry innovation could clean it up]( Anton Alexandrovich Toutov, Virginia Commonwealth University Sulfur contaminates gasoline and coal. And when these fuels are burned, sulfur dioxide is emitted, causing pollution and respiratory issues. Now there may be a new way to remove it from fossil fuels. Most read on site - [Where is my Xanax Rx? Why your doctor may be concerned about prescribing benzodiazepines]( Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the US. They are meant to be used only short-term, but thousands use them long-term. That's a big worry. - [New evidence that an extraterrestrial collision 12,800 years ago triggered an abrupt climate change for Earth]( Christopher R. Moore, University of South Carolina Why did Earth's climate rapidly cool 12,800 years ago? Evidence is mounting that a comet or asteroid collision is to blame, with new support coming from the bottom of a South Carolina lake. - [Your political views can predict how you pronounce certain words]( Zachary Jaggers, University of Oregon How members of America's two parties view the country – and its place in the world – might explain this phenomenon. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [If you’re using 'millennial' as a meaningful measurement, you should probably stop]( [Joseph Cabosky] Joseph Cabosky University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [Forward this email to your friends]( Ask them to sign up at [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111