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There is no denying the worldwide, decade-long influence that J.K. Rowling's
Harry Potter saga
has had on both children and young adults.
The story of a young boy wizard grappling with destiny and adolescence
gained enormous popularity
leaving its impact far and wide.
While the stories themselves have inarguably increased an interest in reading
and further literacy,
critics of Rowling's novels and Warner Brothers' film series
have raised complaints of gender bias and inequality in representation.
Proponents of Rowling's work retort that the series embodies a dualism of stereotypical qualities,
often mocking certain exaggerated ideals from within society while glorifying others.
Because Harry Potter has become so embedded into popular culture,
, it is important that its readers and fans become cognizant of the underlying story
and the more subtle influences.
Messages centering on gender and cultural roles
can subconsciously impact how we form our own definitions of identity
and self-concept
Additionally, influences from Rowling's novels have the potential to affect
how we view social roles and mores.
Gender roles within the series have come under the greatest fire in recent years.
Authors Tison Pugh and David L. Wallace argue that,
"Women's roles are subjugated to masculinity in the Potter books
in that the gender roles in the three main social institutions-government
(the Ministry of Magic),
school (Hogwarts),
and family (the Dursleys and the Weasleys)-are blatantly traditional.
Although women hold positions of power in the Ministry of Magic and at Hogwarts,
the top positions in each institution are currently held by men
and even the British prime minister, who makes a cameo appearance in
Half-Blood Prince,
is male" (Pugh).
These roles, according to critics, are Rowling's way of emphasizing
the importance of older feminine qualities,
such as the protection of a mother's household and a devotion to her children.
Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Weasley demonstrate two very different sides of a mother,
yet they essentially have similar motivations and goals.
Aunt Petunia is a depicted as a mother who has smothered her child
to a point where he has grown into a mal-developed teen.
Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, natures her hoard of red-head children with
a strength and determination. While Dudley becomes a bully and a miscreant,
each of the Weasley children become a hero in their own right.
Physical characteristics play a vital role in the determination
of gender stereotypes.
Watch these next two clips and think of how the
Durmstrang and the Beauxbatons differ.
Now let's revisit those clips.
As you may have noticed, the Beauxbatons are depicted as highly *** and alluring beings.
The men all stare agape as the women flounce down the center aisle.
Each is petite,
fair-skinned
and elegant- in every way the stereotype of beauty.
It is no surprise that later in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
that Fleur Delacouer is epitomized as weak.
As researcher, Meredith Cherland notes,
"Fleur is attacked by Grindylows during the second task of the Triwizard Tournament
and fails to rescue her hostage.
(Harry is, of course, able to overcome them.)
Fleur becomes hysterical when her little sister Gabrielle is missing,
and foolishly grateful to the wrong person.
She deprecates her own efforts in the second task
("I deserved zero," p. 439).
As the third task commences,
Fleur screams and is not heard from again.
I think it is important to note that Fleur's beauty is mentioned frequently,
and this may make the subject position she occupies (as the weak and irrational one)
more desirable for girls to take up" (Cherland 278).
In contrast to Harry or Victor Krum,
Fleur is represented as feeble, fragile,
and in many ways,
unable to hold her own when in competition with males.
Females aren't the only ones that are targeted within the series.
The Durmstrang crew is comprised of strong, robust males
who exhibit strength and stereotypical masculinity.
They have broad shoulders and barreled chests.
By fighting with staves and tumbling down the center aisle, they emphasize male characteristics of aggression, dominance, and power.
Unlike Fleur, Victor quickly is dubbed the frontrunner of the TriWizard tournament and is admired by all for his strength and power.
In a book by English professor Shira Wolosky,
she is quoted "Harry Potter is a world of riddles and secrets,'" said Wolosky.
"There are coded instructions, hidden corridors and rooms,
unseen doorways and houses, secret passwords and passageways; dreams, visions, and runes to decipher" (Macaskill).
Similarly, the contrast of the Beauxbatons and the Durmstrang
may be Rowling's way of emphasizing the qualities within her characters that really matter.
Neither Fleur nor Krum are considered heroes within the story,
and each is dramatically flawed.
Fleur for example, is depicted as vain and self-centered,
whereas Victor Krum an empty-headed brute.
According to an article by "The Sunday Times," Mark Macaskill reports:
"Rowling has previously defended herself against accusations of sexism,
insisting her feminist conscience is saved by Hermione,
who she has described as 'the brightest character and a very strong female character' in the Potter novels" (Macaskill).
In many ways, Hermione and similarly strong female characters like
Professor McGonagall
embody Rowling's strong feminist views and negate theories proposed by critics.
Hermione is a multi-faceted character that fulfills a number of vital roles in the novels and film adaptations.
According Meridith Cherland,
Hermione is "Hermione the giggler (on page 77), Hermione the helpful and capable (on page 302),
Hermione the emotionally expressive (on page 314), and Hermione the clever (on page 631).
These all draw on discourses and story lines that work to constitute
girlhood in Western culture
and that offer subject positions that girls can take up" (Cherland 278).
She is clever, strong, determined,
and in the seventh book, an instrumental part of Harry's plan to thwart
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named
Rivka Temima Kellner remarks:
"Despite Rowling's ambivalence towards issues of feminism as illustrated here,
she has still done a great service to the feminist cause.
How is ambivalence a service to the feminist cause?
Instead of serving us a fast-food like conclusion, she has forced the readers
to think about the subject, to explore the subject in the company of three kinds of children,
three kinds of reactions
—Ron, who thinks the whole issue is moot,
Harry, who has more important things to worry about,
and Hermione, who decides to attack the subject head-on.
Like all classics the seed planted in the reader's mind is what sustains the work for years" (Kellner).
While the debate rages on, it is evident that the Harry Potter series tells more than the tale
of a young wizard and his friends.
It explores deep social ideologies and roles. I
t forces readers to examine their own life
and look closely into the social working of their own interactions.
Furthermore,
it helps readers to understand who they are
and where they have come from.
We see ourselves in the characters of Ron, Hermoine,
and Harry
and we begin to understand the constituents of our own identity through the examination
of their character.
J.K. Rowling's story has been an inspiration to countless individuals
and has rooted itself deeply in a generation.