[HPforGrownups] Logic and math of sexism (was Males are just as silly as females)

[magicy2jai at cox.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 41287

Amy Z said:

<<The fact is that if you list all the characters who
 are important to the books, you will find that they
 are overwhelmingly male.>>

I probably shouldn't preface this with, "I really wanted to stay out of this..." because it sounds contrived, although it's true.  It seems like no matter what answer is given, it's going to offend someone.  But I'm going to try to state my thoughts without being too offensive.

In my experience as a reader, as a writer, as an editor, and in working in a children's library, I have come to the opinion that when a writer makes a concerted effort to have equal numbers of boy and girl characters, with equal 'good' and 'bad' characters of each gender...  it can look a little (or sometimes more than a little) contrived.  That's not the way the world works, and I think kids know that.

Rowling is not going to be able to please everyone who has taken a census of her characters, because inevitably someone is going to find something lacking.  I think that the integrity of the story and what makes sense with the story is more important than how many good role models she has for girls, or whether there is a 2.75:5 ratio of girls to boys, or whatever.  It just so happens than in characters like Molly Weasley and Hermione, there are good examples for girls, and it also happens that in characters like say, Snape, Lockhart, etc. there are some bad examples for boys.  Would it be possible too, to assume that perhaps girls might learn something from the male characters, and vice versa?  I know when I was a young reader, I didn't only identify with the girl characters.  Both the male and female characters in the Harry Potter books have UNIVERSAL qualities, and that's why I don't think it matters how many of each there are.

Jai Marie


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