No Peace in the House: Witchcraft Accusations as an "Old Woman's Problem" in Ghana
نویسنده
چکیده
Witchcraft beliefs are a part of every day life in Ghana and a part of aging in Ghana as well. This is typically not a problem for older adults, in a country where the connotation of the English word “old” is more positive; a colloquial term for translating, “I am old” means “I have grown” (van der Geest 2005). In addition, older adults who are known to have the wisdom that comes with knowing witchcraft are more often feared and respected rather than feared and abused (Awedoba, personal communication 2005, Van der Geest, 2002). On the other hand, older women marginalized within family systems are vulnerable to attack and even abuse. The national and international media have reported on horrific cases in which older women were murdered as suspected witches (e.g. Smith 2010). Follow up reports then focused on “witches’ camps,” to which the accused may flee for protection where they are also effectively imprisoned if family and/or community refuse to let them return. There ARTICLES
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