open letter to JKR

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 155623

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Con Collins" <concollins at ...> 
wrote:
>
> Hi,  
> I always wondered whether Madam Hooch was a lesbian ... or could it 
be that she simply represents the "gym teacher" stereotype? 
> Of course, one might argue that the wizarding community itself is a 
metaphor for the gay community (or any other misunderstood population).
>  
> Con.
>

Interesting question, Con. 

I would have never thought that Madam Hooch was a lesbian from reading 
the books.However, when I saw Madam Hooch in the movies, I immediately 
wondered..since she was portrayed as a stereotypical lesbian with 
short grey, boots, etc... about her orientation.

<Digression about gym teachers -- 
I grew up in the 1950s, and I did have a gym teacher who was a 
lesbian. (She lived with my third grade teacher, they were known as 
two "old maids"). There's a classic funny song written in the early 
1970s about lesbian gym teachers (by Meg Christian, "she was a big 
tough woman, the first I ever knew, who taught me you could be female 
and still could be strong...so graduation meant that we had to part, 
she'll always be a player in the ball park of my heart"). So there's 
probably a germ of truth in the gym teacher stereotype.>


In the books, the only woman who is portrayed as stereotypically  
lesbian is Professor Grubbly-Plank.(in appearance)..due to her crew 
cut and pipe....but of course JKR is not stuck in old junk...that is, 
in my opinion, she is clear that appearance, haircut, dress has 
nothing to do with orientation. 

<Disgression about gender roles: In the 21st century, I think that 
most of us understand that most gender roles (if not all, if you 
exclude giving birth, siring children, etc.) are culturally or 
societally based. We understand that being strong, independent, etc. 
has nothing to do with sexual orientation for women, and that being 
sweet, generous, compassionate, and peaceful has nothing to do with 
sexual orientation for men. In the 1950s, gender roles were extremely 
rigid here in the United States. When I was growing up, the only 
professions really open for women were domestic help, teachers, 
secretaries, waitresses..the New York Times actually had "help wanted-
female" and "help wanted-male" in their classifieds.>

I agree that  you COULD see the HP universe as a metaphor for the 
lesbian/gay population.

But it is also a metaphor, as you point out, for ANY oppressed group.
That's because the way oppressed groups are kept down is the same 
whatever the nature of oppression is.(one way oppressed groups are 
kept down is spreading myths, lies, stereotypes about them).. JKR also 
talks in one of her interviews about how disadvantaged populations 
don't always stick together and do fight amongst themselves.

Susan