more on stereotypes( WAs role models and gender typing)

[moongirlk]

No: HPFGUIDX 33567

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jrober4211" <midwife34 at a...> wrote:
> Also, no one has mentioned this lately, and since I am a newby, I 
> want to preface what I say with -No, I have not read every listing 
> regarding Madam Pomphrey. 
> 
> I just want to make this observation about her character.  She is a 
> nurse and IMHO is portrayed as hateful, impatient, and bossy. 

Wow!  As someone who thinks of Pomfrey as being compassionate, 
efficient, assertive and highly competent, I'm lost. I guess I could 
buy bossy - she's is clearly boss of the hospital wing, telling 
people to get out if they're endangering the rest and recovery of her 
patients, but she also turns a blind eye when she can tell that said 
patient wants/needs the company.  
But I very recently posted something about the virtues of Pomfrey in 
another post (33508, if you're interested), so I guess I'll leave it 
at that and just ask this - what, in the text, gives you the 
impression that she's hateful and doesn't do very much?  I wish I had 
the books handy so I could re-read her scenes, because my initial 
reactions to her were so much the opposite that I'm curious to see 
what I might have missed.  Nurse Ratchett was cruel and enjoyed the 
control she had over her captives -er.. patients.  If Pomfrey comes 
off like that to some people, I must have missed or misinterpreted 
something big.

Still and all, though, I have to defend her on this point:

> I can't remember her ever being described, per se, but the 
> image that comes to mind is one of those white uniformed, 
stockings, 
> and little white caps on their heads starched to the hilt, type 
nurse 
> one saw in the old soap operas of the 1950's.  Now what kind of 
role 
> model is that for little girls and boys who want to be future 
> nurses ?

If you can't remember her being described, how can you determine that 
because of the image that pops into your mind she's a bad role 
model?  And can her outfit make her a bad role-model anyway, unless 
she's wearing the version of said uniform that might show up on a XXX 
movie while treating the kids?

kimberly
wanting to rush home and re-evaluate Pomfrey, just in case.