[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Does JKR's portrayal of woment combat sexism?

[Kathryn]

Judy wrote:

>I think that characters like Molly Weasley show that
> women can be strong, that they make things happen, that they 
>count. I think reading about Molly Weasley encourages people to 
>see mothers in a positive light. Since many girls identify 
>strongly with the maternal role, and with their own mothers, I 
>think reading about Molly Weasley helps girls to see themselves in 
>a positive light.

And then Cindy argued:

>I would dearly love to believe this. I really would. But I have 
>some problems with it.

>Many girls and boys already have role models in their lives 
f>ulfilling the maternal role. And the teacher role. And the nurse 
>role. Children already know that women can be strong and fulfill 
>those roles.

>What many children do not know or experience is strong women in 
>other roles. The airline pilot role. The plumber role. The 
>surgeon role. That is why I think it is far more useful for 
>children to see women in these roles -- not because these jobs 
>are "better" or "more valuable" but because seeing women in these 
>roles allows the child to see something they might not otherwise 
>experience. 

Judy also wrote:

> I don't think an offhand reference to some female MoM (minister of
> magic, not mother) does anything like this. There's nothing to
> identify with, no character to capture the imagination. There's 
>just not enough in these passing references to alter girls' views 
>of themselves. If the goal is to have girls grow up thinking they 
>can change the world, I think the character of Molly Weasley's
> accomplishes more than all those contrived references to female
> witches who had leadership positions in the past. Thinking of 
>oneself as valuable and capable is more important than seeing 
>particular careers as appropriate for women. 

To which Cindy added:

>Mmmm, I don't agree with you on that last sentence. You can depict 
>a woman as a capable homemaker, but I don't see how that depiction 
>will encourage girls to see themselves as capable of changing the 
>world. As a stay-at-home mom, even I don't see how my success or 
>competence in this role will encourage my daughters to think they 
>can change the world.

I know that pretty much all we've seen of Molly so far is Molly Weasley the
mother but I think JKR may be setting her up to be more than that. From the
way Albus was interacting with her I think she's going to be quite important
in the fight against Voldemort - but that could be just my innate love of
Molly as a character speaking. So she may end up as the archtypal
have-it-all female character, saving the world *and* fulfilling a more 
traditional' role as wife and mother, although frankly doing anything other
than being a mother when she has 7 children amazes me, especially with kids
that seem to be trouble-magnets like the Weasleys. Anyway the point I was
trying to make is that we shouldn't necessarily judge how women are
portrayed in the series until all seven books are out since, assuming they
keep increasing in length, or even stay static from now on, we're only half
way through. She's unlikely to introduce to many more major characters from
now on leaving room for development of those we already have. While I admit
that the male characters outnumber the female ones she may have plans for
developing some of the women we already know. Minerva and Molly seem
destined for more non-traditional, changing the world type action, hermione
obviously is an important part of things anyway, and personally i think
Hooch might be getting a bigger role. Don't ask me why because I couldn't
say, it's just a feeling I get. Also by the end of the series Ginny will be
17 (I think) so we should get to see her developing, at the moment is
difficult to judge what sort of role model she would be because she's just a
kid.

K