JKR and the boys and the girls

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 162400

The problem I have with all of these posts is that they assume 
that "girls" are one way and "boys" are another...and ignore the fact 
that once teenagers escape from the clique-driven "you must be one 
way"..many of them (in the U.S.) are off to universities or the armed 
forces or the work force where they get to choose their friends, 
choose their interests, and act the way they want. They get to ignore 
rigid gender stereotyping if they so choose.

Yes, JKR has a hard time with girls. She casts Hermione as the 
exception to the rule -- most girls (Ginny, Cho, fleur are probably 
the exceptions because -- due to their roles in the book -- JKR has 
to THINK about them -- and therefore does a better job with them with 
other girls) are giggly, travel in packs, spend their time scheming 
to ensnare the boys (Romilda Vane, Pansy Parkinson), or who else? 

The fact is that Hermione is brilliant. She's a genius. And I don't 
mean her facility at her studies. (Which these days seems to be what 
girls are supposed to do, read and study, while the boys play sports! 
And so, here in the United States, more girls are qualified to be 
admitted into universities than boys. What a disaster for our sons - 
who are being pressured into being brawny no-nothings. I'm a mother 
of a nine year old son!)

Hermione is trashed on fan sites and these list serves. I think it's 
pure sexism. Girls/women are supposed to be lesser.

Let's face it. Hermione, as a teenager, masterminds telling the truth 
about Lord Voldemort's return to the entire wizarding world! She 
manages a major shift in public opinion. Within Hogwarts, she 
organizes Dumbledore's Army -- she thinks through the idea that her 
friends must be equipped to fight against Lord Voldemort and the 
Death Eaters - convinces Harry to be the leader, and recruits a ton 
of participants. She creates solidarity and resistance among them.
She helps the group forge its bond -- and punishes the traitor 
amongst them by a spell that Delores Umbrage cannot break.
She unmasks and restrains Rita Skeeter - who was causing Hagrid, Ron, 
herself, Harry, DD, etc. a ton of grief.

I wish that Harry had listened to her before he went to the Ministry 
of Magic to rescue Sirius.

And JKR pokes fun at her (through Ron, and through Hagrid who 
explains that it is in the nature of the House Elves to be slaves)as 
she is outraged at the plight of the house elves. But I hear little 
outrage at the use of slaves to do housework, cooking, cleaning, etc.
This is a horrible part of the wizarding world. Hermione is obviously 
far ahead of her time.

Obviously, she is far beyond Harry and Ron in her brilliance and 
abilities. 

Susan (who is very, very nervous at the fact that she is organizing a 
major Harry Potter festival in Humboldt County, California this 
weekend.)