The Witch Hunt at Santiago de la Monclova Social Control and Resistance on the Northern Frontier...

The Witch Hunt at Santiago de la Monclova

Social Control and Resistance on the Northern Frontier

Deborah R. Buchholz

Outline

• Research Question

• The Northern Frontier

• Sources

• Analysis

• Conclusion and Relevance

Witchcraft as Resistance?

• Martha Few. Women who Live Evil Lives.

• Uses gender analysis to discuss women’s use of witchcraft as a challenge to patriarchy

• This challenge at the household and community level extends to the higher levels of authority

• Connections between daily forms of resistance and full-scale rebellions

• New directions

Coahuila

• Set of Inquisition Documents dated from 1748 to 1753

• Drought

• Indian Wars

Coahuila

• Set of Inquisition Documents dated from 1748 to 1753

• Drought

• Indian Wars

Other Sources

• Cheryl English Martin. Social Negotiation in Chihuahua

Patriarchy

• Laura Lewis

Unsanctioned Domain of Power

Not a challenge to Hegemony

Analysis

• Resistance to Patriarchy

• Inquisition

• Politics

Conclusions

• Further Research – Connections between daily forms of resistance and full-scale rebellion in colonial Mexico

• Relevance – Better understanding of women’s resistance today