I love Emma & Hermione!! When I first read the HP books, I couldn't believe the main girl gets to be smart, funny, determined, resourceful! YES! No more "stupid girls" screaming their heads off, crying to mommy/daddy, having to have the man come in and save the day. Hermione has saved Harry and Ron's skin more than once because she is smart! I am glad Emma is all for it too!

Can't wait for OotP tomorrow night!!

Somehow the last quote of the article in People was the best for me:
"Let's be honest: I have enough money never to have to work again, but I would never want that. Learning keeps me motivated."

Ah! This is for you, Nicole.

"Hermione doesn’t care what she looks like."

I remember seeing complaints from HP fans over a line they gave her in one of the movies where she asks how her hair looks, because they felt it was way out of character for her. But in the books Hermione does magically fix her teeth at one point, so I guess she cares a little?

Nevertheless, I think she's a pretty feminist character (as are most of Rowling's female characters) and as such, a lot better role model for young girls than the usual "pretty pretty princess" tripe.

If only Watson were a better actress...

HPHPHPHPHP knowing that they found such a cool girl to play Hermione makes me love Harry Potter even more, which i didnt think was possible.
it actually surprises me that J.K. Rowling isnt talked about more on Feministing. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that one of the most successful writers in history is a woman. She's an amazing role model.
Also, I'm not sure if this has ever been discussed on Feministing, but on her website she wrote a little note to young girls about body image and how the media pressures women to be thin. I was so impressed when i read it.
She's badass and definitely one of my heroes.

Not sure she deserves the title "feminist of the day" when she is propagating stereotypes about feminists-- that they are competitive and challenging (masculine).

I think she's a pretty good actress for someone who's still just a kid. And Hermoine was also one of my favorite characters. Her bookishness reminds me so much of me, and I love that Rowling makes it actually matter that she knows things. Hermoine shows that you can be intelligent, clever, caring, and still be adventerous and exciting to know.

GSalvidea, what's wrong with characterizing feminists as competitive and challenging? Aren't we supposed to be challenging the status quo? Aren't we supposed to be able to be out there competing to the best of our ability to achieve whatever we set our minds to? And who said those were only masculine traits? Isn't it a belief of feminism that being competitive and/or challenging doesn't make one less of a woman?

Vervain, I remember that line, it was in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. I HATE that line, it's so out-of-character...
I was always irked by how trendy they make Hermione in the movies & how they fixed her hair, but that's really not Emma's fault.

My only hang-up is that a feminist is simply one who believes in equality for women, and should not be defined by feistiness or other personality traits.

Believing in it without doing anything to support it (even living your life as support of the ideals) really makes one more of a theoretical feminist than an actual one.

I remember reading that in Parade yesterday! I was quite happy about that; it's good that little girl fans of the Harry Potter fandom can look at Emma and see that certain parts of Hermione (her independent streak and cleverness, for example) aren't just J.K. Rowling and cellophane veneer.

Gsalvidea, you gave yourself away by calling competitiveness and "challenging" masculine traits. Women exhibit a large range of personality traits. So do men. The patriarchy just wants us to *think* it's masculine to be competitive.
If you don't believe women are allowed to be competitive and challenging (what does that even mean), you don't really believe in equality for women.

I *love* HP!
I've already seen the new movie, but I'll have seen it 3 times before it's official release date.

Anyway, since reading the 5th book again, I've been thinking about Hermoine. I do love her character (she reminds me of myself), but I wish we knew more about her!

We know all about ron's family and what not, but not much about Hermoine. I'm interested to know how her muggle parents live with their magical daughter...

I have never thought about that line in Azkaban...I don't know if it's really out of character...I mean, it sounded like she was just kind of wonder to me than actual concern for appearance..it's not looks don't matter to Hermoine, but it's more that look are definitely not on her top 5 list and problem way near the bottom of the top 20. They're just not important to her. She's got much more important things on her mind.

I was also a bit miffed that they changed her appearance in the movies, but I think it was just to make it more relate-able to kids...I mean, they started wearing jeans that same movie and they (the magical ppl) aren't supposed to know anything about muggle clothes and the like

Oh man..I could go on and on.

I think Hermione does care about her looks a little (fixing her teeth as Vervain mentioned, and she does turn herself out rather nicely for the ball in Goblet of Fire) but what's vital is that her looks are not the most important thing about her. The important thing about her is her intelligence and ability. And there are a lot of other strong female characters in the HP books. Two of my favorites are Ginny and Fleur, because both of them are pretty (even supernaturally beautiful, in Fleur's case), but very tough and capable women rather than lovely damsels in distress.

Frankly though, I love it that J.K Rowling was able to become so successful off her intellectual property alone. Plus, her books are well written and, in my mind, put to rest the idea that children don't want to read. If you make it interesting and exciting, they most assuredly DO want to read.

Ooh, I love it! Go Emma!

I thought the hair comment in Azkaban was just sort of a funny throwaway - I mean, you don't really get so see the back of your head that often, do you?

Seconded on the awesomeness of Ginny Weasley, but also don't forget Professor McGonnagal and Luna Lovegood! And with Quidditch and pretty much any other activity in the HP universe, women and men can compete side by side and do the same work.

I agree, JK has some awesome female characters (and the one in a more traditional role...Aunt Petunia...we end up totally disliking...interesting thought?)

I agree that Hermione probably does care somewhat about her looks, but it's obvious that it's nowhere near the top of her priority list. She does get her teeth fixed, but only when an opportunity presents itself--it's not as if she ran out to get them fix the second she realized that magic could be used to alter her appearance. She takes the time to make her hair look sleek and elegant for the Yule Ball, a special occasion, but there's no mention of her continuing this on a daily basis or anything. I guess that's why I hated the hair comment in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. I feel like in such a dire situation, her hairstyle would be the last thing she'd be thinking about, even if she is looking at the back of her own head.

And if you think about it, her best villains are female as well!

Heck, I never thought about all this! Now, I'm just loving HP more and more!!

This is so getting shared on facebook.

I should clarify that I think Watson's acting has gotten better with each film, and I think she'll continue to improve--it just annoys me how she over-enunciates her lines. Maybe it's not even bad acting, maybe she figures the character would talk like that..?

Roxie - Well, we know her parents are both dentists!
I also hated the addition of jeans and non-robe clothing--maybe you could justify it for Hermione, but for the others? How's Harry affording jeans that aren't 10 sizes too big for him? And does Ron even know what jeans are? Sigh.

Still, the movies aren't too bad. I hope OtP is good--it's my favorite book of the series. Also the longest, which makes me dread how much they cut...

With interviews you've always got to consider that the reporter picked and chose what was the most sensational, and the article that results very seldom represents what the interviewee actually meant. So I'm not going to nitpick here and just say: YES! Go Emma. I am SO pleased to see that the role of Hermione has taught her that her brain is, indeed, her most important body part.

And if you think about it, her best villains are female as well!

Heck, I never thought about all this! Now, I'm just loving HP more and more!!

This is so getting shared on facebook.

Actually, Vervain, Harry has a ton of his own money, that his parents left him, and JK Rowling also mentions in the books how the younger "trendier" wizards wear muggle clothing, while the older wizards have no idea how to put them together.
Re: Janet- What about Mrs. Weasley? She stays at home, and has more of a "traditional" role and everyone loves her!

sorry for the double post.

I was just happy that she actually said the F word! Most actresses would have started that sentence with "I'm not a feminist but..."

She claims it. Even if she says "bit of" in front of it. Awesome!

RockStar, but the money isn't muggle money. It would make sense if there was a place in say, Diagon Alley to convert magic to muggle money, but I don't think there's any mention of such.

If Hermoine's parents can change Muggle money for wizard money at Gringott's (as mentioned in one of the books), I don't see why they couldn't do it the other way around.

Also, just for the record, I don't see anything wrong with Hermoine caring a bit about her looks. She's not over the top, and it's not a big priority with her. But who hasn't wanted to look pretty sometimes? Or had a sudden attack of anxiety at the wrong time? Sometimes it's even just an outward expression of other anxieties coming out in a weird way.

Oh, and after the Yule Ball, when someone says something about her hair, she expressly states that she would't fix it that way all the time because it's far too much trouble. So we know for certain that she went back to her usual look, and why.

And yes, I am a huge fan. How did you know? *grin*

Vervain - OotP is also my favorite (thus far), so I'm a little worried that they've cut it all to pieces, but hopeful. I guess we'll see soon!

Janet - I'd consider Mrs. Weasley to be in a pretty traditional role, and she's likeable. But Rowling does seem to make it pretty clear that that is not the expected standard for witches, since she shows women as ministry officials, law enforcement personel, professors, etc.

BK125- I agree, do you think that may be because it's possible to do all the domestic work with the use of magic and house elves so they have plenty of time to pursue their own interests and careers outside the home?

My thinking was that Harry has lots of wizard gold, but no Muggle money, so while he can easily buy wizarding stuff, Muggle clothing would presumably be beyond him. That's what I was getting at.
However, thinking back I seem to remember a reference to Hermione's parents exchanging some of their Muggle money at the bank, so I suppose Harry could concievably have done the same in reverse and then gone shopping for jeans...
*shrug* I guess I'm just a purist at heart. They annoyed me a lot with the movie of GoF--they had so much story to squeeze in, and instead they added crap, which took time away from (or cut entirely) actual important stuff! Grrr!

Another thing I like about Rowling's female characters:
Mothers always love their children. Even "bad" kids like Malfoy and Dudley are clearly loved by their mums. I don't know that's especially feminist really--I just think it's kinda nice.

awesome! i knew i liked her!

Erk. Must refresh before posting. What Roxie and Kimmy said.

I have fears about the movie. I've seen a few clips and, well...bad casting for Umbridge (actress looks more like Nancy Reagan--completely the wrong direction!) and Harry's got this short, tidy haircut...but I'm trying to maintain my optimism.

Completely OT, but does anyone else think that R.A.B. is Regulus Black, and that the real horcrux will turn out to be the "heavy locket none of them could open" that they found while cleaning out the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place? If it was, hope they didn't throw it out..!

Vervain, I never thought about the mothers-children relationship... I guess I always wrote it off as other characters continuing to have what Harry does not, and a peripheral issue.

Now that you've brought it to my attention, I think I may have dismissed the issue too hastily. How does that relate to feminisms in general and Emma Watson in particular?

I'm not sure, but to me it's good because, like Harry's having two best friends, one of each sex, because it recalls the idea that it's difficult to be successful when one is influenced only by what's masculine or feminine.

Now, if people realized this in regard to female protagonists, instead of dividing them into maiden/matron, martyr/survivor, virgin/whore categories, we might actually get somewhere!

Vervain, I thought R.A.B was Regelus Black as soon as I put down book 6. He'd been mentioned too often not to have some kind of importance. The familial connections are actually one of the most fascinating aspects of the books for me, and I'm hoping we hear more about them in the last book. My mother and I have been trying to work out some of the relationships that aren't fully fleshed out yet. Especially within Harry's family.

Um, on topic... Witches rule! Wooo!

Vervain - I actually thought the exact same thing about Umbridge looking like Nancy Reagan! As I mentioned, I'm trying to be hopeful about the whole thing...just less hopeful than I was for GoF (which quite disappointed with)...so I'm still going tomorrow night at midnight, I just find myself less willing to go line up for good seats right after work, as some of my friends want to do.

I completely agree about RAB being Regulus and the locket they found being the real horcrux. I, too, hope they didn't throw it out, or that guy (whose name I can't remember) didn't steal it to sell somewhere.

Re: All mothers love their children - Except poor Sirius, if his mother's portrait is any indication of what the real Mrs. Black was like...

Rock Star - That might have had something to do with it, but I'm not sure that magical shortcuts, or even house elves would work as well for say, child care (especially since...do we actually know where all those wizarding children get their primary education before they get shipped off to Hogwarts?) I guess I always figured that having more gender equality might have just been a part of magical society to begin with, or it came about much, much earlier (since two of the four founders of Hogwarts were female, and that was supposed to be 1000 years ago).Maybe it has something to do with the relative unimportance of things like size and physical stregnth in the wizarding world...women might not have been regarded as much as being inferior because despite being, in general, physically smaller and less strong physically than men, they could still be just as powerful magically. Maybe?

I'm a huge HP dork, and am glad that it's getting a little love here at Feministing. From the Quidditch world to the Ministry, the equality of skill and success has always been something I've loved seeing. Whole generations of girls growing up thinking that women can and should head up the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, or play professional Quidditch with guys.
Vervain,I have to really, really disagree with you about Umbridge- I think Imelda Staunton is exactly right for the role- she's what I always pictured in my head- the sort of evil that simpers more the angrier it gets. I think she was a brilliant cast.
Anyway, I'm a dork, but I'm glad that Emma has embraced the F word and is so cheerfully honest about her strengths.

Completely OT, but does anyone else think that R.A.B. is Regulus Black, and that the real horcrux will turn out to be the "heavy locket none of them could open" that they found while cleaning out the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place? If it was, hope they didn't throw it out..!

Or that Mundungus didn't steal it...

Vervain, I've seen the new film and if you're a purist, well, you'll need a good dose of tolerance. But for what it's worth, the casting of Imelda as Umbridge is nothing short of perfection.

When the audience hear her firs "ahem", oh man, we actually cheered!

My only point Sarah is that exhibiting certain personality trait, specifically those that are traditionally pegged "unfeminine" (patriarchy's words, not mine), does not make one a feminist.

Okay, so all spider are arachnids, but not all arachnids are spiders.

You said she's propagating a stereotype. So, by exhibiting these perosnality traits, she's just propagating a stereotype? There for, she's not a real feminist?

Please clarify for me.

My only point Sarah is that exhibiting certain personality trait, specifically those that are traditionally pegged "unfeminine" (patriarchy's words, not mine), does not make one a feminist.

No, but being unashamed of that fact does (or is, in my opinion, at least enough to qualify one as "a bit of" a feminist). She gladly embraces those qualities that might be criticized by anti-feminists. Through her very popular character, she embodies the ideal of a woman (girl, whatever) appreciated for her personal qualities and not her appearance. That, to me, seems an awful lot more feminist than just sitting around thinking about women's equality, but YMMV.

And yes, many of the HP readers may dislike Petunia (and her seemingly subservient housebound role).

However, I will bet the right to be taken seriously for an ENTIRE MONTH that Petunia will kick major butt in the last book! Girl power! ^_^

And yes, many of the HP readers may dislike Petunia (and her seemingly subservient housebound role).

However, I will bet the right to be taken seriously for an ENTIRE MONTH that Petunia will kick major butt in the last book! Girl power! ^_^

I love Hermione. There is a whole generation of girls who will grow up thinking of her as normal - and, of course, of JK Rowling as normal - which is the coolest thing ever.

Think of it - a decade full of girls who think Hermione is a role model, who think that it's normal for a girl to be at the top of her class, and who think it's normal for a girl to be that tough, independent, and cool. Better yet, the boys are also hooked on HP, and they all think that Hermoine and Ginny are normal. Yay!

How fantastic - a young girl owning up to being a feminist! I'm going to send Watson some fan mail because of it. Actually, I should probably also send some to Rowling for writing such a variety of strong female characters. There's Petunia and Molly Weasley, McGonagall and Bellatrix LeStrange, Ginny and Luna and Hermione - all very different, but none of them weak or pushovers.

There's a very cool essay about the women of the Potterverse here. It was written after OotP.

It's great that Emma Watson is a feminist! And I know JK Rowling has made some strong feminist statements beyond the books too: one time she said there were a million things she wanted her daughter to be other than 'skinny' and railed against the pressure on women to be skinny.

However, as this essay points out, there are still elements of HP heavily invested in gender stereotypes - but maybe the last book will rectfiy this! (Hope the link works): http://www.thefword.org.uk/reviews/2003/08/harry_potter_an

It's great that Emma Watson is a feminist! And I know JK Rowling has made some strong feminist statements beyond the books too: one time she said there were a million things she wanted her daughter to be other than 'skinny' and railed against the pressure on women to be skinny.

However, as this essay points out, there are still elements of HP heavily invested in gender stereotypes - but maybe the last book will rectfiy this! (Hope the link works): http://www.thefword.org.uk/reviews/2003/08/harry_potter_an

I've always thought Hermione was pretty badass. Especially in the third book when she takes the lead at the end with her time turner thing.

I'm glad to see Emma is as cool as the character she plays.

What I love is that she's only 17. When I was 17, I was still in the "I'm not a feminist, but..." camp. So even if she quantifies it with "a bit of" and maybe doesn't have her ideas on feminism fully thought out yet, I love that she uses the word. It makes me happy to think that with a little more maturity, she'll probably say "I'm a feminist."

And like what someone else said, how exciting to think some younger girls will read that and have a different model for what it means to be a girl. Maybe it'll inspire them to find out what feminism really is.

Best EW/HG/Feminist moment ever.

Or here in its original equally feminist context.

"I remember seeing complaints from HP fans over a line they gave her in one of the movies where she asks how her hair looks, because they felt it was way out of character for her. But in the books Hermione does magically fix her teeth at one point, so I guess she cares a little?"

My teeth don't line up either, and sometimes this gets awkward when I bite (the upper and lower incisors don't meet, so they don't always fully cut through the food). I haven't read any HP books in a while, but did Hermione say why she wanted her teeth straightened? I don't remember if she wanted it to look pretty or to bite sharply or something else.

I read another article on Emma Watson in a magazine last weekend in which she again said she was "a bit of a feminist". In this case she was expressing her worries over girls giving up sports because they felt they shouldn't get muscles or be strong. She said that she feels at her most beautiful coming off the field flushed and sweaty after a hockey game.

Just as an aside to the poster who complains that she over enunciates, I happened to be on the same bus with her a few months ago, and that seems to be just the way she really talks.

When Hermoinie has her teeth changed she mentions that she had wanted to use magic before but that her parents wanted to continue with other dental practices and that they didn't think magic and teeth should mix as they're both dentists. This made me think that there probably was some issue with her teeth other than her thinking they would look better smaller :)

I love hermoine's character both in the books and in the movies. I just saw the fifth one and there's a great scene where hermoine and ron are praticing magic and Ron tells her he'll go easy on her. The look she gives him is absolutely priceless :)