Pomfrey and Gender balance/strong women Madam Pomfrey in particular

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15124

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
> 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



Great. That's my bottom line, too. Molly is an incredibly strong 
woman. I love her. I think she's great.

In no possible way am I saying that the women in HP are not strong 
women. Lily, Molly, Hermione, Minerva are strong women..YES! They are 
GREAT...
and I would never, ever say they are not strong because they are not 
in positions or leadership.
I would never, ever devalue any woman's role or contribution.

Let me try again..
Why are all the people who are in positions of leadership men?
Why are the VAST MAJORITY of the characters who are pivotal, 
important, in cental  roles  --- MEN?
Why are the vast majority of the characters who are compelling, 
exciting, cool -- MEN..?
Sure, the 13% of characters who are women are wonderful, exciting, 
amazing, and I love them..
BUT why are all the important actors in the drama - MEN?
After all, this is fiction.
Why can't we envision a world in which some of the leaders and actors 
are WOMEN?
Why are women too often relegated to the role of helpmeet, mother, 
girlfriend, wife, crush.....?

NO ONE has answered the question -- where are the men who stay home
with the children?
where are the men who are basically the supporters of the women who 
act?
where are men whose primary role is NURTURANCE?
And who have no other major role?


NO ONE has answered the question about fantasies about adult 
women/men in fanfiction.......

Please understand that I want to have dialogue and respectful
interchange about the role of men/boys and women/girls in HP.
I have no intention to offend anyone and apologize if I have
done so.  

I love this list. I think the moderators are doing a wonderful job
and that the members are awesome.

In OUR house, we often toast -- Harry Potter! The Boy Who Lived!

Susan McGee, delighted mother of James Jesse March McGee, 3.5 years 
(who today put on his purple cloak and hat, and proclaimed that he 
was 'Harry Powder' and that he had his broomstick and was on his way 
to play Quidditch, and told me that his sister was Hermione and and 
my partner was Ron, and that I was Albus Dumbledore..) and Eleanor 
Genevieve March McGee aged 18 months who has not yet figured out who 
Harry Potter is..