Utopian vision vs realism in fiction

[sirius_3lack]

No: HPFGUIDX 33471

"jrober4211" <midwife34 at a...> wrote:

I doubt seriously that JKR 
> conciously decided while writing the Potter stories " Gee, I think 
> I'll write a series in which traditional gender roles are 
portrayed."
> 
> Jo Ellen

I disagree. 

Of course the text isn't just what the author intended (it also 
reflects her cultural background, assumptions, and biases - known or 
unknown)

However I think there must have been a concious choice involved in 
making the hero (Harry), the side kick (Ron), The most senior "good" 
figure (Dumbledore), the most senior "evil" figure (You-know-who) and 
the higest ranked wizard (Fudge) all male characters.

But this could be for a number of reasons:

1. This is the way JKR believes young readers view the world 
(possible)
2. This is the way JKR wishes the world to be (unlikely)
3. This is the simplest and least contentious option - the line of 
least resistance and most readers (most likely)

The idea that JKR is unaware of the gender role issue within the 
text, or to suggest they were decided on unconciously can I think be 
proved false by looking at a specific gender issues raised by JKR in 
the texts.

For example, the point is made that no girls are chosen to play 
Quidditch for Syltherin. Within the books the attitudes of the 
Slytherins are often depicted as being unacceptable or "wrong" - 
conservative, old fashioned even discriminatory (eg the pure 
blood/mud blood debate). The association is that not giving girls an 
equal presence on the team is equally "wrong".

There are however countless posts on this board (particulary from the 
excellent judyserenity) about the lack of positive / strong female 
characters. I think there seems to be some agreement that whether 
intended or not - conciously or unconciously there is a gender 
imbalance in the potterverse.

Perhaps this will be corrected with the revelations regarding Lily 
over the next 3 books - perhaps not. 

Perhaps we are expecting too much complexity/moral direction from 
what is essentially a story simple enough to be enjoyed by readers of 
all ages. 

Imagine if groups such as this had been around when Blyton was 
publishing childrens fiction. Now there is a gender imbalance.

Sirius