9 Aug 2022

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How J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series portrays gender roles and relationships

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Academic level: College

Paper type: Coursework

Words: 543

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From the book, the authors claim that contrary to the way other authors and critique views Harry Potter as a story that is dominated by male gender, the story unfolds more radically and attempt to avoid gender stereotype in many forms. Gender is a theme that has a history in the world. Mostly, the female gender has been the subject of gender discrimination and stereotype in history. In the past centuries, gender roles were shaped by society with women given minor roles, and their sphere defined within the kitchen. Since then, Gender issue has been an important matter in the world with female gender gaining a lot of milestone in social, political corporate sectors. However, people levy different critics on the Harry Potter’s story, especially Cinderella, as they claim that most of the gender themes that male dominate major features in this book making them superior compared to females who have minor and discriminative roles. However, the authors seem to have different perception with the critics by viewing the gender themes in these stories as more gender balanced and gender the messages that enhance gender radicalism. 

First, the authors claim that Potter's story is a child based fiction, which they narrate in the children's viewpoint. In this sense, the authors argue that viewing the book from an adult viewpoint as most of the critics do, brings about a misinterpretation that may lead to seeing the book as gender bias ( Gallardo-C, X., & Smith, 2003, p. 192). For instance, the author claim that in these books, there is a tension between children and adults and not as good and evil as the adults may read the book. It is because the book is less targeting the adults. The authors thus claim that a look into these books must consider children viewpoint that view gender differently from adults. 

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Next, the authors also view this book as a reflection of an individual experience of gender disparity and not as a book that perpetuates gender disparity in the world. In this book, for instance, there are many instances where the female gender is empowered and given voice than the male gender. In such sense, the authors notice that male gender tend to suffer under the arrogance of females gender. An exploration of gender trouble gives a clear view of what the authors try to explain by asserting that the book is a reflection of the experiences and not gender discrimination. For instance, by demonstrating how the boys are suffering under the power of Hermione, the authors succeed in demonstrating that the story is not gendered bias becomes even the male gender also suffer ( Gallardo-C, X., & Smith, 2003, p. 193-195). Further, by providing the female gender with the role of being teachers at the school of the witches also shows how women are empowered just like in the contemporary world. 

Finally, a review of the story Cinderella also demonstrates the authors' viewpoint that these stories do not perpetuate gender discrimination and stereotype, but are the embodiment of gender radicalism. For instance, the authors' note that most of these story's end with Cinderella’s Triumph ( Gallardo-C, X., & Smith, 2003, p. 195). Though the Cinderella stories describe the female struggle, discrimination, and powerlessness, the authors end the stories positively by drawing a path through which female find their way out of their challenges as victors. It shows that the stories are gender radicalisms and not discriminative. 

In conclusion, the authors’ argue that contrary to what the critics view Harry Potter’s story as gender discriminative, this may not be true considering how the story unfolds and the target audience. From the story, the authors view Harry Potter story as gender radicals and not gender discriminative. 

Reference 

Gallardo-C, X., & Smith, C. J. (2003). Cinderfella: JK Rowling’s Wily Web of Gender’Reading Harry Potter: Critical Essays. Ed. Giselle Liza Anatol. 

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StudyBounty. (2023, September 16). How J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series portrays gender roles and relationships.
https://studybounty.com/how-jk-rowlings-harry-potter-series-portrays-gender-roles-and-relationships-coursework

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