Feminist/Gender Theory on Ginny Weasley

-Ginny is always noted based on her attraction to Harry

-doesnt have a fully fleshed personality like Hermione
-her importance in the second novel is only as a betrayer, a weakling, a damsel in
distress
-more feminized than Hermione (displays more typical female behavior)
-looked down upon as a little girl
-blamed for being the victim in Riddles scheme (by her own father!)

THESIS
Ginny Weasleys character has no developed personality, existing only as a love
interest for Harry. She is constructed as a very feminine character displaying
typical female behavior, and her importance in the second novel builds her as a
betrayer, a weakling, and a damsel in distress, which enforces her gender and her
romantic relation to Harry. (REVISE)

POINT 1
-Ginny is always noted based on her attraction to Harry
Chamber of Secrets p.35:
At that moment there was a diversion in the form of a small, red-headed figure in a
long nightdress, who appeared in the kitchen, gave a small squeal, and ran out
again.
Ginny, said Ron in an undertone to Harry. My sister. Shes been talking
about you all summer.
Yeah, shell be wanting your autograph, Harry, Fred said with a grin
Sorcerers Stone pg. 97:
Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, oh please. (Ginny)
Chamber p.40
On the third landing, a door stood ajar. Harry just caught sight of a pair of bright
brown eyes staring at him before it closed with a snap.
Ginny, said Ron. You dont know how weird it is for her to be this shy. She
never shuts up normally ---
Chamber p. 43

The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the
floor with a loud clatter. Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever
Harry entered a room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged
with her face glowing like the setting sun.
Chamber p.44
Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year? Harry asked Ginny.
She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the
butter dish.
Chamber p.61
Leave him alone, he didnt want all that! said Ginny. It was the first time she had
spoken in front of Harry. She was glaring a Malfoy.
Potter, youve got yourself a girlfriend! drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet
as Ron and Hermione fought their way over
Chamber p.237
Hot all over at the thought of being given a valentine in front of a line of first years,
which happened to include Ginny Weasley, Harry tried to escape.
Chamber p.239
as Ginny passed him [Malfoy] to enter her classroom, he yelled spitefully after
her, I dont think Potter liked your valentine much!
Ginny covered her face with her hands and ran into class.
Chamber p.286
Ive got to tell you something, Ginny mumbled, carefully not looking at
Harry.
Chamber p.309
Riddles eyes glinted how she didnt think famous, good, great Harry Potter would
ever like her.
Chamber p.326
Harry! I think Myrtles grown fond of you! Youve got competition, Ginny! (Ron)

-doesnt have a fully fleshed personality like Hermione

We barely see her other than at the Burrow and in passing at Hogwarts. Because
shes only ever feeling shy and nervous around Harry we dont see her personality,
and at Hogwarts shes always afraid. The only time we see anything akin to a
personality is when she defends Harry (but this again plays off her obsession and

attraction to him) and at the end of the Chamber of Secrets where shes back to
normal and explains Percys girlfriend, but pleads with the twins not to bother him.
Hermione, on the other hand, has very defining personality characteristics. Shes
smart, shes bossy, shes a stickler for rules but eventually breaks them to help
her friends, shes brave, she gets things done, shes quite good at planning, shes
easily stressed, shes unable to do anything less than her best
We could argue that of course Hermiones fully fleshed out because we see so much
of her compared to Ginny, but the fact that Ginny completely revolves around Harry
and doesnt seem to have any personality traits NOT related to him indicates that
Rowling had no other purpose for Ginny other than to become Harrys love interest
and be an easily tricked damsel in distress aka a plot point for the Chamber of
Secrets. This is a problem because women should not be defined by a man

POINT 2
-more feminized than other female characters like Hermione (displays
more typical female behavior)
Sorcerers Stone pg. 97 : They leaned out the window for her to kiss them good-bye,
and their younger sister began to cry.
Chamber p.66
They had almost reached the highway when Ginny shrieked that shed left her diary.
Chamber p.146
Ginny Weasley seemed very disturbed by Mrs. Norriss fate. According to Ron, she
was a great cat lover.
Chamber p.157
Why shouldnt we be here? said Ron hotly, stopping short and glaring at
Percy. Listen, we never laid a finger on that cat!
Thats what I told Ginny, said Percy fiercely, but she still seems to think
youre going to be expelled, Ive never seen her so upset, crying her eyes out, you
might think of her, all the first years who are thoroughly overexcited by this
business---
Chamber p.185
The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though
scared they would be attacked if they ventured forth alone.
Ginny Weasley, who sat next to Colin Creevey in Charms, was distraught, but
Harry felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up
They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to
write to Mrs. Weasley and tell her Ginny was having nightmares.

Chamber p.210
Oh, dont, she [Ginny] wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was
planning to attack next
Chamber p.309
I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasleys like this is because she opened her
heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger.
The diary, said Riddle. My diary. Little Ginnys been writing in it for months and
months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes how her brothers tease her,
how she had to come to school with secondhand robes and books, how Riddles
eyes glinted how she didnt think famous, good, great Harry Potter would ever
like her.
Its very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old
girl, he went on. But I was patient. I wrote back. I was sympathetic, I was kind.
Ginny simply loved me. No ones ever understood me like you, Tom.Im so glad
Ive got this diary to confide in.Its like having a friend I can carry around in my
pocket.
Chamber p.313
So I made Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to
wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring.
Chamber p.322-323
Ginny was stirring. As Harry hurried toward her, she sat up. Her bemused eyes
traveled from the huge form of the dead basilisk, over Harry, in his blood-soaked
robes, then to the diary in his hand. She drew a great, shuddering gasp and tears
began to pour down her face.
.Ginny wept as Harry helped her awkwardly to her feet.
Chamber p.326
But tears were still flooding silently down Ginnys face.
Chamber p.328
She [Ginny] was standing with her head against Mrs. Weasleys shoulder, and tears
were still coursing silently down her cheeks.

-looked down upon as a little girl

Sorcerers Stone p.308
Harry Potter! she squealed. Look, Mom! I can see --- (Ginny)
Be quiet, Ginny, and its rude to point. (Mrs. Weasley)

Chamber of secrets p.35: a small, red-headed figure in a long nightdress, who

appeared in the kitchen, gave a small squeal, and ran out again.
Chamber p.56
Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one
hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.
Chamber p.67
Ill take Ginny and you two come right after us, Mrs. Weasley told Harry and Ron,
grabbing Ginnys hand and setting off.
Chamber p.286
Ginny jumped up as though her chair had just been electrified, gave Percy a
fleeting, frightened look, and scampered away.
Chamber p.307
And between the feet, facedown, lay a small, black-robed figure with flaming-red
hair.
Chamber p.311
It took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting her diary, said
Riddle.

POINT 3
-her importance in the second novel is only as a betrayer, a weakling, a
damsel in distress
Chamber p.310
Havent you guessed yet, Harry Potter? said Riddle softly. Ginny Weasley opened
the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters and daubed threatening
messages on the walls. She set the Serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the
Squibs cat.
Chamber p.313
So I made Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to
wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring.
Chamber p.322-323
.Ron! Harry yelled, speeding up. Ginnys okay! Ive got her!
Chamber p. 327

You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it? (Mrs. Weasley)
(can reemphasize all the crying weakling, damsel in distress)
-blamed for being the victim in Riddles scheme (by her own father!)
Chamber p.329
His d-diary! Ginny sobbed. Ive b-been writing in it, and hes been w-writing back
all year---
Ginny! said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. Havent I taught you anything?
What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you
cant see where it keeps its brain? Why didnt you show the diary to me, or your
mother? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic --- THIS
SOUNDS SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE VICTIM BLAMING. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT COMES
FROM A MAN. SO CAN I EQUATE GINNYS EXPERIENCE WITH RIDDLES DIARY TO
VICTIM BLAMING

UNORGANIZED QUOTES:

Sorcerers Stone
pg. 97
Oh, Mom, can I go on the train and see him, Mom, oh please. (Ginny)

They leaned out the window for her to kiss them good-bye, and their younger sister
began to cry.
p.308
Harry Potter! she squealed. Look, Mom! I can see --- (Ginny)
Be quiet, Ginny, and its rude to point. (Mrs. Weasley)

Chamber of Secrets
p.35

At that moment there was a diversion in the form of a small, red-headed figure in a
long nightdress, who appeared in the kitchen, gave a small squeal, and ran out
again.
Ginny, said Ron in an undertone to Harry. My sister. Shes been talking
about you all summer.
Yeah, shell be wanting your autograph, Harry, Fred said with a grin
p.40
On the third landing, a door stood ajar. Harry just caught sight of a pair of bright
brown eyes staring at him before it closed with a snap.
Ginny, said Ron. You dont know how weird it is for her to be this shy. She
never shuts up normally ---
p. 43
The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the
floor with a loud clatter. Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever
Harry entered a room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged
with her face glowing like the setting sun.
p.44
Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year? Harry asked Ginny.
She nodded, blushing to the roots of her flaming hair, and put her elbow in the
butter dish.
p.56
Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one
hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.
p.61
Leave him alone, he didnt want all that! said Ginny. It was the first time she had
spoken in front of Harry. She was glaring a Malfoy.
Potter, youve got yourself a girlfriend! drawled Malfoy. Ginny went scarlet
as Ron and Hermione fought their way over
p.66
They had almost reached the highway when Ginny shrieked that shed left her diary.
p.67
Ill take Ginny and you two come right after us, Mrs. Weasley told Harry and Ron,
grabbing Ginnys hand and setting off.
p.146

Ginny Weasley seemed very disturbed by Mrs. Norriss fate. According to Ron, she
was a great cat lover.
p.157
Why shouldnt we be here? said Ron hotly, stopping short and glaring at
Percy. Listen, we never laid a finger on that cat!
Thats what I told Ginny, said Percy fiercely, but she still seems to think
youre going to be expelled, Ive never seen her so upset, crying her eyes out, you
might think of her, all the first years who are thoroughly overexcited by this
business---
p.185
The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though
scared they would be attacked if they ventured forth alone.
Ginny Weasley, who sat next to Coin Creevey in Charms, was distraught, but
Harry felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up
They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to
write to Mrs. Weasley and tell her Ginny was having nightmares.
p.210
Oh, dont, she [Ginny] wailed every time Fred asked Harry loudly who he was
planning to attack next
p.237
Hot all over at the thought of being given a valentine in front of a line of first years,
which happened to include Ginny Weasley, Harry tried to escape.
p.239
as Ginny passed him [Malfoy] to enter her classroom, he yelled spitefully after
her, I dont think Potter liked your valentine much!
Ginny covered her face with her hands and ran into class.
p.286
Ive got to tell you something, Ginny mumbled, carefully not looking at
Harry.
Ginny opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Harry leaned forward and
spoke quietly, so that only Ginny and Ron could hear him
Ginny jumped up as though her chair had just been electrified, gave Percy a
fleeting, frightened look, and scampered away.
p.307
And between the feet, facedown, lay a small, black-robed figure with flaming-red
hair.

p.309
I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasleys like this is because she opened her
heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger.
The diary, said Riddle. My diary. Little Ginnys been writing in it for months and
months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes how her brothers tease her,
how she had to come to school with secondhand robes and books, how Riddles
eyes glinted how she didnt think famous, good, great Harry Potter would ever
like her.
Its very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old
girl, he went on. But I was patient. I wrote back. I was sympathetic, I was kind.
Ginny simply loved me. No ones ever understood me like you, Tom.Im so glad
Ive got this diary to confide in.Its like having a friend I can carry around in my
pocket.
p.310
Havent you guessed yet, Harry Potter? said Riddle softly. Ginny Weasley opened
the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters and daubed threatening
messages on the walls. She set the Serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the
Squibs cat.
p.311
It took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting her diary, said
Riddle.
p.313
So I made Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to
wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring.
p.322-323
Ginny was stirring. As Harry hurried toward her, she sat up. Her bemused eyes
traveled from the huge form of the dead basilisk, over Harry, in his blood-soaked
robes, then to the diary in his hand. She drew a great, shuddering gasp and tears
began to pour down her face.
.Ginny wept as Harry helped her awkwardly to her feet.
.Ron! Harry yelled, speeding up. Ginnys okay! Ive got her!
p.326
Harry! I think Myrtles grown fond of you! Youve got competition, Ginny! (Ron)
But tears were still flooding silently down Ginnys face.
p. 327
You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it? (Mrs. Weasley)

p.328
She [Ginny] was standing with her head against Mrs. Weasleys shoulder, and tears
were still coursing silently down her cheeks.
p.329
His d-diary! Ginny sobbed. Ive b-been writing in it, and hes been w-writing back
all year---
Ginny! said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. Havent I taught you anything?
What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you
cant see where it keeps its brain? Why didnt you show the diary to me, or your
mother? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic ---