Logic and Math of Sexism (WAS Article)

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 42607

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "rsteph1981" <rsteph1981 at y...> wrote:
> Well, the way girls are presented sometimes irritates me as well.
> I'm actually less irritated by Harry's view during GoF (because 
> girls do talk about who has asked them to dances) and because 
> Harry is likely exagerrating because he hasn't had the nerve or
> opportunity to approach Cho and is irritated.
> 
> What bugs me more is all the references to girls screaming and
> gasping.  If the boys start, the girls scream. The first example 
> that comes to mind (without the books in front of me) is in PS 
> when Harry's after the rememberall.  And it happens several other
> times.  Makes it seem like the girls are more fearful than the 
> boys, and that just doesn't cut it with me.
> 
> 
> Rebecca

bboy_mn comnnents:

Stereotypes are based in reality. Girls do scream more than guys,
that's reality as I know it. But that doesn't mean girls are more
fearful than guys, only more vocal under those circumstances. There
are other circumstance where guys are more vocal which I'm sure annoys
a lot of people and which I'm sure some people would consider an
unfair stereotype of guys. But these are still reality.

In addition, these are all common plot devices. In any scary movie,
what happen the first time the monster is seen; a woman screams. What
happens when a group of people come upon a gruesome death seen; a
womans screams. Although women are somewhat more likely to scream in
that situation; it's used in movies because a woman's scream is very
loud and piercing. That intensity increases the shock value.

Away from movies and back to books, to some extent it is still a plot
device; it's a way for the author to create a visualization of an
event, and while fiction, that visualization has to ring true to
people preception and expectations of reality, and has to effectively
convey a mood or feeling. 

So, I personally don't see those examples you sited as portraying girl
in a weak or negative light.

bboy_mn