OOP: Boys & Girls in the Potter World

[rachelbeth007]

No: HPFGUIDX 67318

Someone started this all with:
So Ladies, how about Hermione and Cho? Did JKR capture the essense of the teenage 
girl for you?
 
 Jenny:   
> In a nutshell, Cho is 
> quite a  realistic teen girl, and as someone mentioned, as pretty as 
> she was, it wasn't enough to boost her self-esteem.  Very teen.

*** I would agree.  Cho does have a certain level of self-esteem, as she is obviously 
smart, athletic, and popular.  However, JK nicely highlighted the Achilles heel of many 
teenagers.  The friend of the opposite sex. I found Cho's insecurity when it came to 
the friendship between Harry and Hermione very realistic for this age group (and it 
certainly creeps up on adults too).  Although I think H/H are just friends, I can see 
how a 16 year-old who doesn't see their interactions on a regular basis might feel 
insecure about the nature of the H/H relationship.


 > > Hermione - I adore Hermione but I couldn't relate to her then and 
> > can't relate to her so much now.  I don't think any of my friends 
> were both smart and incredibly confident the way Hermione is.  Most 
> of my friends worked extremely hard at school but often struggled 
> with boys, worrying far more than Hermione seems to.  Teen girls can 
> sit and analyze *every single* movement made by the cute boy.  I know 
> I did  that endlessly, but Hermione seems not to be too bothered by 
> what the boys think of her.  If she is bothered, she puts on the best 
> act I've  ever seen.  If I was in her position and Ron spoke to me 
> before and after the Yule Ball the way he did, I would have broken 
> down and cried all night.  Hermione seems to shrug it off.

I would say I was very similar to Hermione in high school--driven academically and 
not overly emotional or concerned when it came to boys.  However, it was still 
possible for boy situations to get to me, even if I didn't spend endless time on the 
phone with my friends analyzing everything a boy did.  I would have to disagree that 
Hermioine just "shrugs off" the Yule balle affair with Ron.  Their argument was 
definitely heated from both sides.  We don't know what Hermione did in the privacy of 
her own room, so she could've very well had a bit of a cry.  My thought on Hermione 
is that she doesn't daily get caught up in the guy stuff and go giggling about (like, 
Lavendar and Parvati); however, this does not make her devoid of emotion interest or 
emotion when it comes to boys.  She simply chooses to have an air of cool and calm, 
but she does occasioanally let her guard down and show some boy-related 
frustration (Yule Ball, Ron being clueless about girls, etc). Most 15 year-old girls 
aren't like this, but I can certainly relate.

Darrin:
> So, that's why I think she shrugged off Ron's tirade as 
> easily as she did. And besides, she was right. Ron was being really 
> unreasonable -- you snooze, you lose, pal -- and our girl Hermione is 
> very confident when she knows she's right. 

Oh she knows she's right, but I still don't think that made it any easier.  Regardless of 
whether she has feelings for Ron or Harry, Hermione's had to have been hurt that 
neither one (particularly the one she likes) thought to ask her to the ball until so late 
in the game.  Being an afterthought, especially to someone you like, is certainly no 
picnic for anyone, even if you already have a date.  Publicly, you hold your chin high; 
privately, you have a little cry.  

Jenny:
> > Ginny - CoS and OoP Ginny are vastly different, even though I like 
> > Ginny in both books.  Do 14 year olds really develop confidence so 
> > quickly?  That I don't remember.
Darrin:
> Ginny reminds me of 14-year-olds at my school that somehow ALWAYS 
> seemed to be dating guys at least three years older than them. I need 
> to set up a clock to determine when that girl is legal.

I think Ginny's confidence really started to build during GoF.  Sure, we really didn't 
see this too much, but we did see subtle hints of the Ginny to come.  As much as I 
hate to say it, perhaps she gathered some (not all of her) confidence from dating a 
boy.  Realizing that even if one boy doesn't see you the way you want him to that 
doesn't rule out the rest of the male population is a great lesson to learn.  I would 
agree with Darrin that Ginny reminds me of those girls who were always dating older 
guys in high school.

Note to Darrin:  Technically Ginny is already legal in the "real world."  Of course, she 
is still underage in canon and doesn't actually exist in the "real world," but if adult 
women can drool over Harry, Ron, etc. you should be able to do the same with Ginny.  
No double standard here.

Rachel
I love the 80s moment: "George Michael? Gay? Surely you jest."