JKR prone to old preconceptions about females?

[Peter and Denise Clements]

No: HPFGUIDX 41093

Claudia Wrote:

<snip>
 >One thing bothers me, though... the
 >lack of strong, maybe controversial female characters. Not because
 >I'm a feminist (i.e. I don't necessarily need a strong female
 >character in order to be able to like a book) but because females
 >often had the opportunity to shine in the books - but never truly did.
<unsnip>

Now me:
I thought all the books had amazingly strong female characters. They may 
not have been out in front like Harry/Dumbledore etc BUT you can tell that 
they are individuals and not just part of the furniture. I don't feel that 
they've been described as being anything less than individuals who are 
encouraged to do their best for themselves, their house and their school 
and to make the right choices.

I think the books have an extremely well balanced view. there are so many 
areas in which the books deal with feminist issues like equality in sport, 
education, employment. So although we don't have a leading female character 
doesn't mean that the balance isn't there.

<snip>
 >Let's summarize: Females are the characters supporting the male
 >heroes, lending them their ear and advice. When in danger, however,
 >they shriek or panic waiting for the male hero to save them as is
 >typical for (as salon.com so well put it) "the damsel in distress".
 >They like to gossip, care for their looks, and almost always talk way
 >too much.
<unsnip>

Now me:
Are you saying that you don't know a great proportion of women who would 
fit into this catagory?

<snip>
 >And if they are in a situation where they have to take
 >action they simply fail.
<unsnip>

Someone had better tell Hermione, the girls on the Quidditch teams, Prof 
McGonagall, Madam Hooch, Mrs Weasley ..... all these female characters who 
although you may consider them "anchors" are portrayed as being more than 
that. As she has portrayed some of the male characters with certain male 
weaknesses and flaws.... Colin & Dennis Creevy, Neville Longbottom, Filch, 
Fudge, Crouch Snr, Hagrid. Some of these people play integral roles, others 
only minor but they all have a characteristic that is unbecoming.
Each and every character in the books have their own strengths and 
weaknesses .. all of them, male or female.

Denise