Refreshing Innocence of HP Preteens

[rainy_lilac at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24648

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Alfredo Ramírez <bonds0097 at y...> wrote:
> <SNIP>

> Actually, in the Connections interview, JKR made it quite clear 
that she
> would not be delving deep into teen sexuality. She said that topics 
like
> teen pregnancy and rape simply did not go with the whole HP theme. I
> personally find this relieving; I get enough of that in the news or 
at
> school, thank you very much. She did say that the characters would 
begin to
> experience the effects of their hormones though.
> 
> </SNIP>

This isn't directed at you, AR. It is just a general observation:

I find it interesting that for many dealing with sexuality somehow 
HAS to mean being sexually active and ipso facto luridly so, that 
alternative sexualities have to be by definition depraved, and that 
rape, teen pregnancy, and crime somehow must be the natural result of 
any sexual feeling or exploration.

Where did we get this idea?

Most of us probably felt our hormones surging somewhere around the 
age of thirteen. I will wager to guess, though, that however intense 
and important these feelings were, most of us probably waited until 
we were adults to become sexually active, and that those of us who 
are gay or lesbian are no more depraved or lurid than our straight 
counterparts. I would also suspect that for most of us LOVE and 
DEVOTION probably go hand in hand with sexuality, even when we are 
being a little on the adventerous side and swinging from the 
chandeliers.

To bring this back to Topic, one of the things I love about Rowling 
is her ability to remember what it felt like to be thirteen or 
fourteen and to have a crush on absolutely the wrong person, or to 
have feelings you don't know what to do with, or (as in the case of 
Hermione IMHO) to suddenly realize that you may be well on your way 
to be turning into a swan. I think she explores these issues with 
humor and realism, and I suspect she will continue on that path. I 
don't think we are going to see the wizard condoms and lube of 
fanfiction (or even the leather pants!) but we will see more sexual 
and romantic tension and attraction between the characters, and that 
this will all wil simply be a part of their devotion to one another. 
What happens in the rosebushes will likely be left to the 
imagination. It is what is happening in the heart that really counts.

My Two Knuts,

Suzanne