Hermione Granger Saves the World

The new essays in this book make two central claims. First, for some people, the word feminist has been either poorly defined or, in some cases, even demonized. Hermione Granger, of the Harry Potter series, serves as an outstanding example of what modern young feminism looks like: activist, powerful and full of agency, yet feminine, romantic and stylish--a new kind of feminism for a new kind of girl. The second claim the essays make is that our young, emergent feminist Hermione Granger is a pivotal character upon whom the entire series rests--not Harry Potter himself (or, at least, not Harry Potter solely). It is Hermione who solves every difficult puzzle, performs every difficult spell, and to whom her two male companions look for guidance and advice. Quite literally, on several occasions throughout the series, Hermione Granger saves the world through her actions. This is an outstanding model for young women (and for young men as well) who are confused about how feminism manifests and operates in 2012.

Christopher E. Bell is an assistant professor of communication and the director of the Center for Excellence in Communication at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. He is the founding area chair of the Harry Potter Studies area in the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture Association and the author of American Idolatry: Celebrity, Commodity and Reality Television (McFarland, 2010).