Why do so many people think all Wiccans are only teenagers?

Question

It occured to me that alot of people thnk Wicca is a teenage thing. In all my experience with Wiccans, I have met very few teenage Wiccans. Most are in their 30's, 40's.

Also, many people are under the assumption that Wiccans are either all Goth kids or severly overweight and unattractive.

I am 30, higher educated, professionally occupied, and (If I do say so myself) quite attractive. so what's the deal?

Answer 1

Merry Meet All

Figured I would add my opinion to this question. As there is not really a right or wrong answer, unless someone was to poll the entire population that thinks this way for an answer.

I believe that due to TV and Movies showing "witches" as the younger generation, and most of the time as "goth", the general population has created this stereotype.

I have been following the path of Wicca for about 10 years now, and have met all ages of Wiccans ranging from 10 to 80+ years old. I have also encountered many younger self proclaimed Wiccans, that are more of Goth teens trying to cash in on the shock factor of saying they are Witches, and that just adds to the stereotype people have created. There are many who proclaim they are Wiccans, yet don't follow the path, Kinda like Catholics :)

In short, unless all wiccans come out of the broom closet, no accurate stats will ever be available.

Just my 2 cents...

Firewolf

Answer 2

I have met both the older and younger Wica and unfortunatly they fit the public stereotype about 80% of the time. Most the younger ones I have met were using it primarly as a rebelion tool. A "mis-understood" group to which they could claim membership and which would also grant them an air of mystery. some go beyond that and don't get dis-illusioned with it but many drop it once it stops shocking people around them.

Most the older ones I've met were the not so EX, ex-hippie. They grew dis-illusioned with the directionless hedionism of the hippie movement and thought that the "ancient" WIcca tradition (which only pre-dated the hippie by about 40 years) would give their hollow, shallow ideas a semi religious context.

The rarest actually do both know the truth and still believe in it as a good philosphy to follow. They believe just because Gardner made it up in the 1920's doesn't mean that it can't hold value. These are the few I've met and respected, even if I thought them to have weird beliefs.

Just for the record I've met only about 50 self proclaimed Wicca. so I understand that my opinion is based on a limited sample size and may not be indicitive of Wicca as a whole.

Answer 3

Because (even though I hate to say it), saying that your "Wiccan" or into witchcraft has become the fad for most teenagers. It's a form of rebellion, against acceptable society. They go for the shock factor they get out of people when they tell them they do "Magic". Most of these teenagers no almost nothing about the craft and just go by what Hollywood tells them it is to be a witch. They are almost as bad as the "God" people saying that we drink animal blood, have orgies, worship the Devil, or place curses upon those we do not like. They simply don't know what they are talking about. I will say though that this is not always the case, some people of my generation (I'm 22) got into Pagan beliefs in their teen years and have stuck with it, not as a shock factor but because they have become disenfranchised with most of the "Neo-Christain" faiths and find Wicca and other pagan faiths are better suited for them. The main issue is that for about the last 2,000 years Paganism has been hailed as "evil", "bad" and in many places a cultural taboo, so when teenagers look for a way to "Shock" the system (parents/schools/peers) it's one of the main thing that can do it. Maybe some day people will wise up to what Wicca and other Pagan faiths are all about, but I wouldn't count on it.

Answer 4

They base their opinions on pop culture.. see movies like The Craft and TV shows like Charmed where all the characters are teens or in their very early 20's and can't fathom that anyone older than 25 can be a Wiccan.

I still get that myself even though I'm 37 and like yourself have a professional geared occupation. Many don't realize a good number of us are 30+.

Answer 5

Merry Meet,

I completely understand where you're coming from.


I think a lot of it has to do with movies like "The Craft" and similar type movies, along with a lack of understanding of history and particularly of the "The Burning Times".

I used to work in a high school, and although some students tried to do reports on that, they were sorely lacking in information (combination of lack of resources in the school system - surprise - and I'm afraid many thought the varities of abuse people, especially women, suffered at that time was entertaining.

Thus it comes across as just one more rebellious act against authority instead of seeing it for what it is.

Blessings.

Answer 6

All the Wiccans I know are well into adulthood. Some of them aren't terribly attractive on a physical level, but their spirits have a beauty that goes so far beyond the physical that most people don't notice. The beautiful ones are down right stunning.

Answer 7

Hello,

Because the True Wiccan doesn´t go around anouncing it or bragging about it. We live and let live. Respect and do no harm. Unfortunately the movies always protey us as young maladjusted, usually daughters or sons of preachers. Where they got that idea, is beyond me.

I am also a profesional.


Blessed be.

Answer 8

Well I agree most of their opinions are based on television but teens tend to be vocal at least the ones who are rebelling are I am not rebelling I just found a religion that felt right to me. Blessed be.

P.S. You stole my name RavenHawk!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

who knows? I suppose its because young girls are so into strange things, and spread info and gossip so quickly, ev eryone just assumes it another phase they are going through. And like being gay, wicca(nothing like the same at all) is popular

Answer 10

MOstly because it is the epitome of rebelion and wishful thinking.