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

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 84389

>   It is interesting (and I picked this up on first reading) that when 
> they're in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, and Molly's getting 
> dinner, just like she always does, Tonks is the only auror who 
> springs up and asks what she can do to help. This is after Tonks had 
> a really long, hard day, too. I notice women in both the Wizarding 
> World and the Muggle World tend to assume responsibility for the care 
> and feeding of their families... and Tonks is even unmarried. 
<snip> 
>   I'm not talking about blatent sexism here, but latent, and 
> sometimes that's harder to ferret out and realize rather than the 
> other kind. 
> 

I think that Tonks and Hermione are just more aware than the men and
boys of how much work is involved in preparing a meal. It reminds me
of a muggle Thanksgiving in America. In my experience, the female
guests will always volunteer to help the hostess peel the potatoes 
and set the table or whatever, as an act of courtesy. The male guests 
will always sit in the living room with the hostess's husband,
watching TV(they're muggles, after all) or talking. Seldom will a male
over the age of twelve volunteer to help with the dinner. Maybe they
know they'll be asked to stay out of the way. Maybe they don't want
their masculinity challenged. Whatever the reason, the situation at
Grimmauld Place is very similar. At least, though, the boys do help
Molly de-doxify the curtains and so on. 
 
Carol