The Witcher series of novels and video games (and now a massively successful Netflix series) has introduced more than 60 different Witchers, all of them men. Any explanation as to why women can't be Witchers too is dubious at best, and at worst reflects the exact kind of hostile sexism that has kept women on an unequal footing in the armed forces, athletics, and leadership roles throughout all of human history.

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Fans will tell you it isn't a matter of tradition of institutionalized sexism, but rather is a limitation of female biology. Here's why that's a load of B.S. cut from the same cloth that has been historically used to subjugate women and limit their potential.

Witchers are afraternity of elite monster-slayers for hire that have been magically and alchemically enhanced with superhuman abilities. Witchers begin their training as young children at one of 4 Witcher schools, often taken from their parents or abandoned there (as Geralt was).

These young boys are trained to fight from the moment they are able to lift a sword. They're also taught a variety of skills like tracking and potion-making. Eventually, each boy is put through a deadly process called The Trial of the Grasses.

During the trial, the Witchers-in-training are subjected to a variety of alchemical and mutagenic processes that permanently change their physiology. This is what gives Witchers their signature cat eyes, their enhanced strength and reflexes, and in Geralt's case, white hair. The trial is incredibly painful and extremely dangerous. It's said that only 3/10 boys even survive the process because it is such a physically and mentally taxing experience.

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Many will point to the Trial of the Grasses as the reason that only men can become Witchers. They'll argue that only the strongest men survive the process and that women are biologically incapable of surviving the trial because they are physically inferior. It is mentioned in the novels that girls have been put through the trial, but none of them survived.

Here's the problem though:pre-adolescentboys and girls do not have marked differences in muscle mass or bone density. In fact, as we can all remember from 3rd grade, pre-adolescent girls growmuch faster than boys do. I can't imagine what physiological difference there could be between little boys and little girls that makes boys more resistant to drinking a bunch of magic poison anyway. Keep in mind, it's fiction after all, the science will only take us so far. If "physical ability" is your argument though, you don't have a leg to stand on.

Ok, then it's no a matter of "strength," but the other common argument is that the Trial of the Grasses is suited for males because of the differences in hormones. Geralt's power levelis often described in the books as the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It isn't a physical limitation that prevents women from being Witchers, but a hormonal one.

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Before we address the way this exact same argument has been used to keep women out of leadership roles in politics and business, we must once again remember that we're talking about children. At least one studywas able to demonstrate that there is no overwhelming difference between hormone levels in pre-adolescent boys and girls. That argument, again, simply does not track.

The final argument often made is simultaneously the most sincere and the problematic of them all. Males have already established a reputation as Witchers around the world. It simply isn't worth the time and research it would take to turn women into Witchers because the system is already set up for men. It's what people expect and what they're comfortable with. Obviously, reinforcing systemic sexism not a particularly good reason to keep women out of the monster-hunting game. The only legitimate reason to argue that women shouldn't be Witchers is that being a Witcher is a dangerous, thankless profession that will almost certainly guarantee a premature death.No oneshould become a Witcher.

Ciri is trained by Geralt using all of the techniques and knowledge that is taught to young male Witchers, so in essence, Ciriisa Witcher; but in name only. She will never be a true Witcher because she can not go through the Trial of Grasses.

When Kaer Morhen was attacked, the mages that protected the secrets of the Trial of the Grasses were all killed. The recipes and formulas for the process were lost, and no new Witchers have been made since.

Knowing Ciri as he does now, perhaps Geralt could have aged into a leadership role amount theSchool of the Wolf (like Vesemir) and perhaps even trained girls to be Witchers too. There are certainly no shortage of powerful, independent women in Geralt's life, and out of anyone I would expect him to abandon tradition and embrace women for all their potential. The Witcher School were misguided, sexists fraternities. There is no good reason a woman can't be a Witcher.

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Eric Switzer is the Livestream News Editor for TheGamer as well as the lead for VR and Tech. He has written about comics and film for Bloody Disgusting and VFXwire. He is a graduate of University of Missouri - Columbia and Vancouver Film School. Eric loves board games, fan conventions, new technology, and his sweet sweet kitties Bruce and Babs. Favorite games include Destiny 2, Kingdom Hearts, Super Metroid, and Prey...but mostly Prey. His favorite Pokmon is Umbreon.

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There's No Good Reason That Women Can't Be Witchers Too - TheGamer