Nel Question #9: Gender - Perfect Sense

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 127508


>>Laura:
<snip> 
>Maybe the whole thing has to do with the fact that women, by 
necessity in a male-centric culture, so often *have* to think of 
things from a "male" perspective, while it is unnecessary, even 
undesirable and taboo, for a man to try to think from a "woman's" 
perspective.
>Anyway, to bring this slightly back on topic -- I definitely see 
this stereotype [men are simple and stupid and women are complicated 
and savvy] in the Potterverse, along with the stereotype that Women 
Know About Feelings And Men Don't.  Furthermore, they are presented 
so *casually* -- as if they were undeniable truth -- again, it just 
seems absurd to me.<

Betsy:
Interesting, because I don't see those stereotypes *at all* in the 
Potterverse.  Lord, take a look at Snape for a perfect example.  I 
would also say JKR has made James into quite a complex character as 
well.  Hermione may get the proper forms of courtship better than 
Harry and Ron, but that's because she got into that game earlier 
than they did.  JKR has never had Hermione seem more understanding 
than Ron of Harry. (In fact, there's one scene in one of the books 
where Hermione thinks they should leave Harry alone to stew in his 
depression, and Ron more correctly offers to take Harry flying.  
Can't remember which book it's in.  But it took place at the Burrow.)

I'd also argue that Dumbledore shows more emotional understanding 
than McGonagall, and Lupin shows more than Molly, during times that 
Harry is upset. I'm not saying that any of those characters are 
better than the others, but I am saying that JKR has definitely 
*not* left matters of a certain complexity up to women.

I don't recall, ever, Hermione (or any of the women) being 
encouraged to think from a male perspective.  Whereas Harry is 
encouraged, by both JKR and characters within the Potterverse, to 
see things from the female's POV.  Just to give a few, off the top 
of my head, examples:  Hermione encourages Harry to see something 
from Cho Chang's POV; Harry has a sudden sympathy with his Aunt 
Petunia (which never happens with his Uncle); McGonagall encourages 
him to understand the underlying message behind Umbridge's speech.  
All of those examples were in OotP, but I think they're fairly 
consistent with the rest of the books.  Part of it, of course, is 
that as the story is told from Harry's POV, he has to have some 
empathy towards the female mind if we're to get the female 
characters at all.

I also disagree with the "Women know feelings, Men don't" stereotype 
being in the books.  Again, Harry has a pretty good grasp on what 
others are feeling.  The worst character at that particular skill is 
Hermione.  That whole thing with Lavender's dead rabbit - Hermione 
was *terrible*.  There was no empathy at all.  She took Lavender's 
grief and tried to use it to prove a point.  (As to her knowledge 
about Cho Chang - she didn't intuit that stuff, she listened in on 
bathroom gossip, and Ravenclaw gossip in her classes, I'm quite 
sure.)

Heck, I'd say *Ron* has a better idea of what people are feeling 
than Hermione.  He gets emotional and has a hard time expressing 
what he's thinking (and isn't that a role reversal!) but he's 
usually got a pretty good clue on how the folks he cares about are 
feeling.

Honestly, I don't see any gender stereotyping going on at all.  
There are *character* stereotypings a plenty.  But I've yet to see 
anything that rises to the level of: This is what girls are for and 
this is what boys are for and may the two never mingle.

Betsy