Gender balance/strong women

[joym999 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15211

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> 
wrote:
> Hi --
> 
> joym999 at a... wrote:
> 
> > I just wanted to say, although the moderators will probably yell 
at
> > me, that I think Susans analysis is right on-target.
> 
> Ahem.  *Why* would the Moderators yell at you for this?

Well, I have to admit that my original post did not do much more than 
say that I agree with Susan.  I thought the Mod Squad would yell at 
me for taking up space with doing nothing more than agreeing with 
someone else.

However, I posted my agreement originally because I feel this is an 
important issue, and there is a reason why it is frequently re-
occurring.  I think that there is a fascinating and important 
political issue here: The HP books are IMHO fairly male-dominated; is 
this just a reflection of the way the world works or is this teaching 
children that a male-dominated world is OK?  To what extent is an 
author (or anyone else for that matter) responsible for the way other 
people may interpret her/his work?

It seems to me that in the sci-fi fantasy realm there are some 
extremes -- on the one hand, the politically-correct, somewhat silly 
IMHO Star Trek-type universe, where every race/gender/etc. is 
carefully represented in the bridge crew of the Enterprise, and on 
the other hand, the male-oriented, violent, Tom Clancy in Space 
school of sci-fi.  Which is more offensive?  Which is a worse model 
for children?

THis issue carries over into other art forms -- To what degree are 
Eminems songs just a reflection (or parody) of the attitudes and 
ideas that people commonly have, and to what degree are his songs 
just disgusting, bigoted, offensive and stupid blather with no 
redeeming social value (not that I am biased or anything).  And 
should you deal with offensive material by ignoring it, embracing it, 
or outlawing it?

OK, now I am getting somewhat OT, but I find these moral issues 
fascinating.


      ^
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    /   \       Joywitch M. Curmudgeon
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  "How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?" said Harry.
  "Them!" said Stan contemptuously.  "Don't listen properly, do 
they?  Don't look properly either.  Never notice nuffink, they don'."

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