From: Thompson, Lauren <LThompson>
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 14:39:31 -0400

One more comment on female characterization in HP and how and why we talk about it. I think it's important.

Responding to this line from Monica R. Edinger:

"But I am worried that we are so busy being the pc police that the pleasure of just reading the books because they are a wonderfully entertaining story." I think many of these issues are coming up because, as was the case for me, some of these characterizations got in the way of my enjoyment of the book. It wasn't wonderfully entertaining to me when the veela cheerleaders arrived, and all the males fell into stereotypical ga-ga "look-a-that!" behavior. I was annoyed just like Hermione, and even more annoyed that the narrative voice seemed to be asking me to take this in stride and find it funny. I recognized the veelas as versions of the Sirens who tempted Odysseus, and it struck me (tongue in cheek) that Rowling would probably be praised by someone for thus providing a link to classical literature. The veelas reminded me how much these books rely on types, to good effect, sometimes, but in this case, it was a type I'd be happy to see less of. My son is too young for this book, but if he had been older, I would have wanted to sit beside him and point out that in reality, not every guy necessarily responds this way to exaggerated female seductiveness. Some guys like guys better. And heck, maybe some of the girls would have been interested, too. More importantly, in a better society, that kind of oggling would be considered rude and unworthy, even under the influence of magic. I'm not willing to say, "guys are like that" and leave it at that. Call my feelings Politically Correct if you will, but this was my honest reaction and it interfered with my enjoyment big time.

Lauren Thompson
Received on Tue 19 Sep 2000 01:39:31 PM CDT