There have been plenty of women who have famously spoken out about why women can’t ‘have it all’. But would a little magic see some women be able to answer this unrelenting question in the affirmative?
Maybe not, according to Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has penned an update on the lives of some our favourite wizards on the Pottermore website.
Taking place several years after the epilogue of the final instalment of the saga, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows, the piece gives some insight into the lives of famous wizarding trio, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, who are now in their 30s and still the best of friends.
On the have it all question, the piece, written in tabloid style by gossip newspaper columnist Rita Skeeter (and a veiled attack by Rowling of the tabloid press), provides this bit of commentary on the “meteoric” professional rise of Hermione, who is now married to fellow Dumbledore’s Army member Ron Weasley.
Skeeter writes:
“After a meteoric rise to Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she is now tipped to go even higher within the Ministry, and is also mother to son, Hugo, and daughter, Rose. Does Hermione Granger prove that a witch really can have it all? (No, look at her hair.)”
So she’s an ambitious working mother and wife with a demanding job who can’t look after her hair — looks like she can’t have it all. Not even with magic. And not even in fiction.
But, fans of Harry Potter who recognise the character of Rita Skeeter will be familiar with her scandal-hungry style of reporting — and her position as an unreliable narrator.
For her part, Rowling has been vocal about her ideas of working women, having spoken out about these ideas of ‘having it all’ previously.
She’s described the character of Hermione as an “exaggeration” of herself, explaining how Hermione’s transition from childhood to womanhood in the books characterises the sacrifices and expectations placed upon all girls, which Hermione refuses to accept.
One of her most dominant features is regularly described as her unruly hair, which fans will remember Hermione said was “too much of a bother” to take care of daily.
So maybe there really isn’t a clear answer to the ‘have it all’ question, but what is clear is that sexism is alive and well in the wizarding community and even female wizards are subject to unattainable beauty standards.
If you’re interested in finding out what happened to the rest of the Harry Potter characters, check it out here.