JKR prone to old preconceptions about females?

[dina_aka_nicky]

No: HPFGUIDX 41126

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "smokyant41" <yrawen at o...> wrote:

Hi,

[Lily's sacrificing herself for herself (stereo)typical for a mother?]

HF writes:
> Well, I'd have to say that, if this is a stereotype, it's a pretty 
> noble one. They're occasionally good things (and you have to 
>balance this by saying that James, too, performed stereotypically -- 
>that is, being the big, protective man of the household in holding 
>off LV.)

Of course. I purposedly didn't use the term stereotype here because 
it does have a negative connotation - and the love and instinct of 
protection parents have for their children is anything but negative!

Then HF argues that the male characters also have their failures:
> Seamus blows things up, 

Yes, he makes mistakes but if he were a girl it would seem just 
ridiculous. That way it's funny.

> Neville is clumsy *and* forgetful (and gets bullied all the time),

But he has a tragic family background which serves to explain his 
insecurity.

> Ron is -- upon surface reading, to me -- the stereotypical Loyal 
> Sidekick (aka Robin, Superdog.)

His jealousy and his upbringing in poor economic conditions turn 
him into something more than just Harry's sidekick.

And HF also cites Draco "as one of the emotional and physical 
bullies". But I'd like to add that Draco at least has the promise of 
becoming a more integral figure, being a Death Eater's son.

HF muses:
> Well, maybe Hogwarts is still trapped in that 'good old boys' world 
> of academia :-) Kidding. Sort of.

That was my first explanation as well (and no kidding) - and it 
would have prevented such discussions from the beginning. We don't 
know the state wizarding society is in. Perhaps the future books are 
going to provide us with an insight here.

Then HF thinks that Lily is going to be crucial in the future which I 
entirely agree on. And I'd like to add my hope that not only her past 
will be revealed but also the real reason for the hatred between 
Snape and James Potter... maybe a fight for the love of Lily? Another 
stereotype BTW. *g*

After I used the term "stereotype" for Molly's role, HF writes:
> 'Stereotype' has, for me at least, a terribly negative connotation, 
> indicating that the person who is something should try to be 
> something else, because what they are is inferior or undesirable. 
For 
> Molly, that's just not true. I would say the same holds for 
> McGonagall, Ginny, and Hermione, at the very least.

No, that's definitely not what I mean by "stereotype". Maybe I should 
have said "role-model" or something with a less negative connotation 
when I wrote about Molly's role as a housewife and mother. I think 
what women such as Molly do for society (i.e. raising the next 
generation and providing them with a solid, loving home) is much more 
important than society gives them credit for. But I think that women 
should have the right to choose what kind of life they want to lead - 
and they should have the opportunity to lead the life they chose. And 
nobody should interfere with that right.

But, to get back to HP, the female characters aren't in any way 
inferior, they are at least so far simply worse depicted than 
their male counterparts - and they just take too much of a backseat 
in the story so far.

Claudia