Weasley Poverty, Working Wizard Women; was Molly & Arthur - was Why I like Ginny

[megalynn44]

No: HPFGUIDX 123645


, Jocelyn Grunow <aandj at l...> wrote:
For example, the Weasleys' poverty is often discussed, but why are 
they
poor? Because Arthur's job doesn't pay well. Why doesn't he get a
better paying job? <snip> Arthur has made the decision not to move
further up in the Ministry because he loves muggle inventions, and he
loves his job. All well and good, and I certainly don't want to
suggest he should move to a job he hated, but he has 6 children to
support & establish - isn't this a very selfish decision?

<snip> Molly and Arthur have been a partnership for
twenty-odd years (how old is the eldest son?) and are now stuck in a
bad pattern.

Now Me:

I myself have often had several issues with the Poor Weasleys. The 
first issue is the one Jocelyn so directly pointed out. If you are 
going to have 7 children, you should be prepared to make some 
sacrifices for them. Now, I am in no way saying the Weasley's are bad 
parents. It is obvious they love their children very much, and make 
them their top priority.

A second issue I have is Molly Weasley's role as a homemaker. Having 
so many young children at home, having to raise AND homeschool them 
certainly warrants a stay-at-home mom. However, with all the children 
out of the house 10 months out of the year, what does she do all day? 
If the family was so strapped for cash (and the years when 5 of their 
children were in school-books 2 and 3- were certainly the tightest)
why not get a job? Come to think of it, how many mothers in the work 
force have we seen in canon?

Now my last bit of nitpicking. BY book 6, the Weasley's being poor 
better not be an issue. There are now only 2 Weasley children in 
school and without jobs. This can hardly be a huge financial burden, 
even for a government job. It shouldn't have been that bad in OOTP.