[HPforGrownups] Canon Veelas WAS Re: More thoughts on the Eld er Wand subplot - Owner?

[James Sharman]

No: HPFGUIDX 187397

> > Magpie:
> > Whether or not there are supposed to be male veelas the fact that we
only see them as females and they're consistently associated with feminine
wiles etc. I think makes them all-female in this universe. And it just seems
like given all we see of Veelas, the idea that Veela hair is too
tempermental links to those Veela turning into harpie-like creatures when
they get angry etc., which Arthur cheerfully makes into a lesson about why
you shouldn't just go for the pretty face etc.
> > 
> > I don't think it's meant to be a big sexist jab, but it does seem to me
to go along with the characterization of Veela, which in turn fits into a
lot of the basic characterization of the female sex in the books. 
> 
> Alla:
> But I was wondering if male veelas are mentioned in canon. If they are
not, then I certainly agree with you, but if they are, even if as a footnote
somewhere, I do not see why I should make a conclusion that only female
veelas exist if they are not.

Magpie:
I don't think male Veelas are ever mentioned anywhere. (I think they're
female in mythology too.) But I could just not know about a reference. I
would get the same vibe from "tempermental" whether or not JKR would say
there were male Veelas or not due to the way all the Veelas we see are
characterized, but I'm not sure if JKR's ever said or originally thought out
Veelas as being only female or both male and female. I mean, if JKR was
asked and said there are fewer male Veelas but they exist I would still
think that "tempermental" would be part of the female characterizations
(tied to female sexuality etc.) we see throughout canon. 

James:

Male Veelas are directly implied by the text even though they are never
mentioned. We are given a string distinction between full Vellas and part
Vellas (thru interbreeding with humans). The existence of that distinction
requires that there is some way for full Vellas to breed, which requires
males of the species.