[HPforGrownups] Re: Pomfrey and Gender balance/strong women Madam Pomfrey in particular

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 15089

Rina Stewart wrote:

> Amanda wrote: Why is being viewed as a leader so important? Why are
> you only
> important> as a woman if you can be viewed favorably through a
> traditionally
> > male-role lens? Why try to be female men, instead of very strong
> women> doing what they want to do (which may be raising kids or being
> a
> school> nurse)?
> >
>
> Susan responded:
> <<But why would you say that a leader is a "female man"?>>
>
> I don't think that was what she was getting at. I could be wrong, of
> course, but this is my take on it - you don't have to be a leader to
> be a strong woman. You can be a strong woman, a strong character, and
> be a mom. Molly Weasley is a strong woman character, but she's not a
> headmaster or minister of magic. She doesn't need to be, she's strong
> on her own. It seems like people are saying that the women in HP
> aren't strong because they're not in positions of leadership, but I
> disagree. They are strong because of who they are, not what their job
> is, and that's the bottom line, IMO.

Thank you ever so much, Rina, that's exactly what I meant and now I
don't have to worry about how to phrase it! I can finish riffling
through the email and go do my strong woman act on the downstairs floor
(mopping day, sigh).

--Amanda


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