Presenter(s): Maya Ward—Political Science
Session: Prerecorded Poster Presentation
This project looks at what were the largest influences in the accusation of a person during the Salem Witch Trials . After preliminary research the main question of inquiry became, why were women more likely to be persecuted in the Salem witch trials and what factors further increased likelihood of accusation and conviction? This question was answered through both analysis of court documents, recorded sermons, and secondary scholarship on the lives of the people accused . It was concluded that the women of Salem, especially the poor and outcast, supposedly influenced by the Devil, became the primary justification for instability in the community . The largest factors that amplified the likelihood of being accused, especially for a woman, was her age, economic status, and outspokenness in the community . These conclusions can help to explain why the moral panic in Salem occurred, and help to demonstrate the danger of oppressive genderroles in a society that, when not strictly followed, can create an ambiguity manipulated by powerful figures that can hurt those most vulnerable .