Hegemonic feminism is very present in the Harry Potter series and is seen through Dolores Umbridge and Bellatrix Lestrange. Umbridge holds an extremely powerful position in the ministry of magic as the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic. Through her position she was placed as the defense against the dark arts teacher, then later instated as the Headmistress. Logically McGonagall would have been Headmistress after Dumbledore, but instead Umbridge is installed. Umbridge uses her title to try and subordinate Professor McGonagall, when seeing that McGonagall is a powerful and educated woman who could threaten her position. They are about equal in their power, and then Umbridge begins to to criticize Minerva’s teaching skills. With the presence of Umbridge trying so hard to assert her dominance over Minerva shows that hegemonic feminism is in place, but not strongly. Although Umbridge has the power in this time, Minerva wins out in the end because she becomes Headmistress of Hogwarts and Umbridge is sent to Azkaban for her mistreatment of muggle born students. Rowling uses this feminism to show a negative institution and we should actively work against.
In addition to Dolores Umbridge being a figure of hegemonic feminism, Bellatrix lestrange is also an example of it. Bellatrix is one of the most prominent antagonistic characters (aside from Voldemort) and she is constantly wreaking havoc in the wizarding world. She is hegemonic because she tries to dominate Hermione Granger because Hermione threatens Bellatrix since they are essentially equals. Both women have extremely close relationships with the two most important characters. By torturing Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Bellatrix is trying to assert her dominance. When Bellatrix realizes that Hermione has been in her Gringots vault, she freaks out and begins to question Hermione. She then mentally and physically attacks Hermione by carving ‘mudblood’ into Hermione’s arm. In her torture, Bellatrix has the power in the relationship although her power is short lived when the group is able to escape. Later in the book Bellatrix is killed my Molly Weasley.
These examples of women trying their hardest to oppress other women, and eventually only gaining short term power shows the audience how negative hegemonic feminism is. By negating the ideas that one woman can subordinate other women through mental and physical violence, this type of feminism is recognized. In both cases the women are trying to achieve dominance by suppressing their female equals and paid severe prices: Dolores Umbridge is sent to Azkaban and Bellatrix dies. Rowling is able to show that hegemonic feminism is a problem that needs to be corrected, because equality amongst all women should be a given when striving for equality amongst men.
In addition to Dolores Umbridge being a figure of hegemonic feminism, Bellatrix lestrange is also an example of it. Bellatrix is one of the most prominent antagonistic characters (aside from Voldemort) and she is constantly wreaking havoc in the wizarding world. She is hegemonic because she tries to dominate Hermione Granger because Hermione threatens Bellatrix since they are essentially equals. Both women have extremely close relationships with the two most important characters. By torturing Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Bellatrix is trying to assert her dominance. When Bellatrix realizes that Hermione has been in her Gringots vault, she freaks out and begins to question Hermione. She then mentally and physically attacks Hermione by carving ‘mudblood’ into Hermione’s arm. In her torture, Bellatrix has the power in the relationship although her power is short lived when the group is able to escape. Later in the book Bellatrix is killed my Molly Weasley.
These examples of women trying their hardest to oppress other women, and eventually only gaining short term power shows the audience how negative hegemonic feminism is. By negating the ideas that one woman can subordinate other women through mental and physical violence, this type of feminism is recognized. In both cases the women are trying to achieve dominance by suppressing their female equals and paid severe prices: Dolores Umbridge is sent to Azkaban and Bellatrix dies. Rowling is able to show that hegemonic feminism is a problem that needs to be corrected, because equality amongst all women should be a given when striving for equality amongst men.