From witches to leaders: women's struggles through the ages

By María Alatriste

Perhaps in another life I was burned as a witch. 

In my heart runs the fire that burns everything when that something 

or someone wants to sanction my freedom or that of my sisters.

Centuries ago, women were branded as witches just for being different, for being wise. Since ancient times, women have been the protagonists of a history marked by struggle. In centuries past, many were unjustly accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake just for being different, for being decisive, or for having the courage to question the status quo. Today, we no longer face the flames of a bonfire. However, gender violence, femicides, abuse and discrimination are the new bonfire. Nevertheless, our strength has never been extinguished; on the contrary, like an unstoppable fire, it has burned and spread, unleashing profound and irreversible social transformations.

Although the road to total change is still long, today we can clearly see how many women are redefining their leadership and making a significant difference in society. They have become role models, inspiring others to fight for equality, justice and respect. Through their example, they demonstrate that women's leadership is not only necessary, but vital for social change.

A fundamental question then arises: How is the modern woman redefining the concept of leadership? The challenge is no longer just to occupy new roles, but to do so authentically, balancing independence and collaboration. There are many paradigm shifts coming as women we are fighting to make motherhood a public issue that no longer invisibilizes invisible resignations.

Women's leadership no longer depends on their relationship with men or their conformity to traditional roles. It is being forged from independence, self-reliance and the courage to challenge established norms. From non-motherhood, real motherhood or empowered motherhood. 

There are still many challenges for all women to have access to education, economic autonomy and the possibility of deciding their own future, no longer accepting assigned social destinies. This not only allows them to grow as a society, but also to open doors for other women. Through this shared leadership, they are generating opportunities, creating support networks and marking a path towards a more equitable future.

Women's leadership is not only about occupying spaces, but transforming them. It is no longer about waiting for anyone's permission, but about acting with determination and making a significant mark on the world. Women are proving that they can not only change their own lives, but also the lives of generations to come.

Today, women are no longer those who burn in the bonfires of ignorance, but those who embody ancestral wisdom and transformative power. The witches of the past were victims of a society that feared their power, but today, the women of the present are the leaders, the visionaries, those who, with courage and determination, are forging a more equitable world. There are still groups that see women as uncomfortable in the established social order. However, in spite of everything, it is an unstoppable force for change. 

Like the witches, who never stopped fighting for their right to be free, today's women continue to defy norms, break barriers and take charge of their destiny. Women's leadership is not limited to history, but rewrites the future. Today, women are not only surviving, but rising from the ashes of a society that is still trying to understand their true power.

Being a woman has always been an act of resistance, of magic, of tireless strength. And the fire that once tried to consume us now burns within us, illuminating the path towards a future where, finally, we can all be masters of our own history. And if there is still an inquisitive part of society that shouts witches, witches, witches, witches! It will only make our unstoppable fire burn more.

The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.