WW Cultural bias re clothes and cupboard?

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 123135


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
Snip) RE: clothes and the cupboard. But would the wizards recognize 
those as mistreatment?
> 
> It's been a running gag throughout the series that the wizards 
> have no idea how Muggle clothing is supposed to look. Snip)> 
> Ditto for the cupboard. Where do the Slytherin kids sleep? In a 
> windowless dungeon, for heavens sake. (Snip)
> Would Dumbledore's watchers know that Muggle clothing isn't 
> supposed to look like loose elephant skin and it's generally 
> considered unhealthy for Muggle kids to sleep in a windowless 
> room? 

Tonk here:

Many health children in loving homes have live without a window in 
their small bedrooms. And I like to think that what JKR is showing 
us here is that the middle class American, (and maybe British) idea 
of having a fancy house, the right style of clothing and everything 
that you want, etc. is not the important thing. And it isn't after 
all.  The important thing is not what you wear or where you sleep, 
it is who you are. Look at Dudley, look at Draco, they are the 
pampered little brats, but not Harry. Harry is a good decent human 
being. And I for one am always asking myself "how is it that Harry 
is so good?"  He has a terrible home life, a bully for a cousin that 
makes his school life hell too, yet Harry is a very kind, forgiving 
and loving person.  There is just *something* about Harry. I like 
the fact that Harry can overcome the middle class cultural bias 
(easier for a boy anyway when it comes to clothes) and turn out to 
be someone who lives for what is important and not for the next *in* 
style of whatever.

Tonks_op