sexism in the WW (Was I know Molly.....)

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 84221

Carol wrote:
Snip
> But it appears from Harry's glimpse of Snape's memories in
> the Pensieve that Severus's father was extremely abusive and both 
his wife and his little son were terrified of him. That's an 
individual instance of a man dominating a woman and a child, I 
realize, but it has nothing to do with the influence of the muggle 
world.

Now me:
It is just a glimpse in to a society very different from our own.  
Don't you think we are possibly putting our own experiences of our 
unfortunate society where men regularly abuse women and children on 
to the tiny picture we have of the Snape family at home?  

Yes, it's a possibility that Mr. Snape is abusive to his wife and son 
but it is just as possible Mr. and Mrs. Snape were embroiled in a 
full out duel and the Mrs. got the worst end of a well aimed hit, or 
Snape Sr. was abusing Snape Jr. and Mrs. stepped in to stop it.  
There are many possible answers to what we saw and I'd encourage 
everyone to look at it from the sexually equal WW point of view.

Time and time again JKR has shown us men and women are equal in the 
WW. Both sexes have always, since the WW kept records, competed with 
and against each other in Quiditch, served their country equally in 
both combat and in the government. Even the Quiditch locker room is 
unisex. And the villains! The two phenomenal villains of OotP were 
female. Bellatrix and Umbridge.  Steven King himself described 
Professor Umbridge as possibly the greatest literary villain since 
Hannibal Lecter and I'm inclined to agree with him.   And speaking of 
villains, the reason Voldemort's Death Eaters are primarily men? 
Because men have naturally a greater propensity toward aggression and 
domination. Two qualities we couldn't live without, but when mixed 
with Voldemort's ambitions only evil can result.

Magical ability levels the playing field, as it is not based on 
physical strength.  Even if a wizard resorts to physical violence a 
witch can easily fight back with magic.

Mandy