[HPforGrownups] OOP: Boys & Girls in the Potter World

[Heather Gauen]

No: HPFGUIDX 67221

Steve (bboy_mn):
> So Ladies, how about Hermione and Cho? Did JKR
> capture the essense of
> the teenage girl for you?

Oh, yeah. I was shocked at the number of people who
didn't like the "stupid relationship stuff" because
they thought it was unrealistic or overemotional or
something. But I personally thought it was a dead-on
oberservation of the way teenagers behave. I have to
wonder if the complainers aren't just too far removed
from their own teenage years to remember how it really
is :)

That said, my first reaction to Cho's behavior was to
cringe. *I* certainly never behaved like that (well,
*I* don't think I did, anyway :P) and I hate to
perpetuate stereotypes that all girls are
overemotional and like to play games. But after some
thinking and a reread, I really felt differently.
Cringeworthy though it may be, it's often true, and
the girl's boyfriend *did* die. I think that's cause
for some emotion.

In defense of Harry and Hermione- No, I don't think
Harry was being insensitive. He really didn't have a
clue. And furthermore, Harry saw Cedric die, so he had
every bit as much right to be emotional as Cho did.
She had no right to assume that he wanted to discuss
it with her. (And, geez, don't get me started on the
whole "You know, Cedric used to bring me here" thing.
It's *too* realistic, I know several girls who would
say something like that, and I think it's tactless as
all hell. Grrrr...)
As for Hermione being too perceptive to be realistic,
I think that's often true, but not this time. No one
is in a better position to explain the way a girl acts
than a girl the same age, *particularly* one who is
smart and not overly emotional herself. This I know
from experience- I have a twin brother, and half my
life is spent deciphering girls' not-so-subtle hints
for him. (He is as perceptive as mud, and I know he's
not alone out there :P) I think plenty of girls
reading OoTP realized Cho's feelings before Hermione
explained them, while plenty of guys were left
scratching their heads and saying "Huh?" even after it
was explained :)

Wow, I wrote more than I intended to, but for once the
subject is something that I, as a 17 year old, can
claim to fully understand :)

Heather, who definitely needs to start watching more
"I Love the 80's."




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