Update to previous post: I forgot to post the question I submitted. Needless to say, I wasn’t picked:
Ms. Rowling: You’ve said the first characters you thought of were: Harry, Ron, Hagrid, Nearly Headless Nick, and Peeves — all male. From the Order to the Marauders, women seem to be in the minority when it comes to important roles in the books. And while I find Hermione’s blurring of gender lines positive, it seems that the characters with feminine traits are either mean (Umbridge) or trivial (the twins). I would love your thoughts on feminine role models in your books.
Thanks to Chicklet for the general idea of the question. Taren brought up Mrs. Weasley, but it doesn’t seem that she does much for the Order and Dumbledore even makes fun of her motherly instincts in HBP. Janeite thinks Ginny exhibits feminine qualities, though I’m not so sure (Quidditch team star and all). I think Tonks might be a good exception…other thoughts?
What about professor Mcgonagall? I’m not disagreeing with your general point, but she’s still a feminine role model.
Is McGonagall really feminine? Harry’s first impression of her is that she’s “stern”, has a “sharp voice”, and is “not someone to cross.”
Umbridge’s voice, on the other hand, is first described as “fluttery, girlish, [and] high-pitched.”
So, you’re differentiating between female and feminine role models? She’s not girly enough to serve as a good example for kids?
I think you’re coming up with examples to support your own theory to some extent. Mrs. Weasley is feminine, but not good for anything. Ginny is feminine but good at a sport, so she’s not girly enough. What are women supposed to be good at that would allow them to also be feminine?
I think it’s this kind of mindset that extends to the workplace where men are powerful and assertive, but a woman with the same traits is a witch. “Not someone to cross” for a woman is the same as “badass” for a man.
Yes, I am differentiating between female and feminine. Ginny could rightly be considered a “tomboy.” As I mentioned, women crossing gender roles are great, but what about women who prefer more traditional feminine qualities? I think the books are lacking in them. Nothing prevented JK from writing about a positive character who had a “girlish, high-pitched” voice.
To answer your question (What are women supposed to be good at that would allow them to also be feminine?) I would say: look at Tonks. When we are first introduced to her, she’s changing her hair color from purple to bubble-gum pink. Also, Harry is immediately impressed that she’s an Auror. She’s also clever enough in HBP to find Harry hidden and immobile on the Hogwarts Express. My point boils down to: I wish there were more Tonks in the books.
Which reminds me that another feminine character we’re introduced to is Fleur. In the tri-tourney, she comes in last, losing out to three boys. And then, in HBP, everyone hates her; though, she does have some redemption in the end.
As for your point about the workplace, I think it cuts both ways. Men might see strong women in a negative light, and in this case JK is certainly helping to break those stereotypes. But, isn’t it also true that some men don’t respect more feminine women? Here, I feel that JK just perpetuates the stereotype that in a workgroup with three men and one woman, the woman will come in last.
In JK’s defense, I think there’s at least one classic feminine quality that Hermione and Ginny both have, that Harry and Ron both lack, and that is portrayed positively in the books: Social awareness/empathy/EQ. Boys are pretty bad at figuring out relationships in the books and girls are pretty good at it.
On the attack again, it’s also interesting there also aren’t really any less masculine boys who are portrayed in a positive light — why aren’t there any empathetic, non-Quidditch-liking, bookish boys? For instance, I can’t think of any character other than Neville who one might suspect would grow up to be gay (not to fully equate less masculine tendencies with being gay, but you get the idea), and his less masculine qualities are certainly not idolized in the books. On the other hand, there *is* the wise, empathetic, bookish Dumbledore…
Since Ron’s EQ is the size of a “teaspoon”, you’ll get no argument here that the girls are better than the boys in that department. However, 1 parts feminine, 3 parts masculine doesn’t make a positive feminine role model.
I would argue that Hagrid is the counter-example to your attack. He’s a prominent character, portrayed very positively, and caring/empathetic. For his size, he’s the opposite of the stereotypical “jock” — Hagrid gets emotional at several points in the series.
And as for Neville…I think he just might have his day in Book 7!