'Wicked women' are just women who are tired of injustice, abuse: Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie wants the world to have more "wicked women". The Hollywood star, in an op-ed for Elle magazine, goes on to redefine the labels often used to brand women as "unnatural" and "dangerous", saying the term "wicked" today should be used for those women who are tired of injustice and are not ready to give up their voice and rights.

"Since time immemorial, women who rebel against what is considered normal by society-even unintentionally-have had been labeled as unnatural, weird, wicked, and dangerous. What is surprising is the extent to which this kind of myth and prejudice has persisted throughout the centuries and still colors the world we live in," Jolie wrote.

 The actor-humanitarian reflected on how often women who run for political office in democratic countries are described as witches. "Bring together a group of strong women, and before too long someone will brand them a 'coven' - the technical term, to be clear, for a gathering of witches meeting at night to consort with the devil. Women who stand up for human rights in many countries are still labeled 'deviant', 'bad mothers', 'difficult' or 'loose'," she wrote.

Jolie, 44, said the accusation of witchcraft has been used to control and silence women in almost all societies and in every century. "Women could be accused of witchcraft for having an independent sex life, for speaking their mind on politics or religion, or for dressing differently. Had I lived in earlier times, I could have been burnt at the stake many times over for simply being myself."