[HPforGrownups] Re: female characters - very long and very opinionated

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 3552

Susan McGee wrote:

> Well, I disagree. If she were friends with girls at Hogwarts, we'd
> know.

It might well be that she'd like having more female friends, but at that age
girls often do not like the overachiever or the odd one out. Females tend to
like to congregate, to build cooperation and mutuality, and at that
coming-of-age age, often the unlike ones are shunned.

> Her friendships with men and her exceptionalness do not make
> her less female.

Small point. Her friendships are with boys. She's well on her way to being
great friends with Molly Weasley, and does "girl things" with her and Ginny
at the Weasley's house. She doesn't seem to gravitate excessively to the
boys or to Arthur, either.

> You are misunderstanding what I'm saying. Most women
> who are male-identified (and I have problems with it with adults)
> will tell you that they are NOT like OTHER women,

check.

> that all their friends are men,

or women who similarly say they're not like other women.

> and that they wouldn't work for a female boss,

no problem with that, though.

> and that they have much more in common with men.

check.

> This stance stems from the idea that men are better, and that women are
> lesser.

Nope, in my case it stems from the fact that I was the youngest of four, and
the rest were all boys. I simply know how to speak "male" very well, and
grew up with male viewpoints all around, and had no real close female
neighbors or friends my age until high school. Men aren't better, women
aren't lesser, but they are wired differently and I'm generally on more
familiar ground with the former. But then again, I'm good at spatial
reasoning, too....

> Ah, but you do get what I'm saying. I would never say that a cool-
> headed smart woman "doesn't come across as female" I would NEVER say
> that a woman "writes like a man!" because I don't agree that there is
> identifiable male and female writing.

No, but I think that whomever writes them, there are identifiable themes
that are preferable to males or females. Don't get me started on "Bram
Stoker's Dracula."

> She would continue to be decent, and kind-hearted but IF we accept
> JKR's portrayal of Lavendar or Parvil as giggly, then she'd be bored
> stiff. She hangs out with Harry because they are fun and she has
> adventures with them.

But she seemed to love hanging with the female Weasleys and getting giggly
with them, too...I don't think gender has been that much of a concern to any
of the main characters thus far. Up until the age they're now at, it's more
on the level of it determines which bathroom you use. They are only now
coming to terms with themselves as potential men and potential women, rather
than just people.

Any of this resonate with anyone?

--Amanda