Pomfrey and Gender balance/strong women Madam Pomfrey in particular

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15246

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Magda Grantwich <mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> > 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?
> 
> 
> Because these are the books she wrote and that's how she wrote them.
> 

Fine. I love the books. I was asking why in the long discussion of 
gender no one seemed to pick up on certain issues 

> I'm not unsympathetic to your questions or your concerns but it's
> really a lot to ask of one particular writer that she create a
> perfectly balanced world in her fiction.  She's writing a story for
> children 

I think she's said repeatedly that her books are not necessarily 
children's books. Am I wrong?


> 
> There was a thread here recently talking about whether HP is fantasy
> or science fiction.  I would suggest it is neither: it is children's
> literature of a sort the British seem to have a genius for and it
> describes the challenges every child faces in growing up.  What are
> Boggarts but the fears that every child has and needs to confront? 
> What is the mudblood/pureblood controvery but the prejudice every
> child experiences on the playground directed at him/herself or at
> others?  
> 

Certainly the mudblood/pureblood controversy could be seen as the 
prejudice every child experiences. My own opinion is that it is about 
racism.