The most beautiful thing about being a fan of the Harry Potter series is the fact that everyone is a fan and even if they’re not a fan, they understand Harry Potter references. My favorite character throughout the entire series is Ginerva Weasley, the youngest and fiercest in the Weasley clan. Harry Potter fans tend to dismiss Ginny to only being Harry’s love interest, and I’m pretty sure Ginny would hex the crap out of anyone who said that. Ginny is strong, brave, confident, and kind. She always stands up for herself, the people she loves, and people who need standing up for. Ginny does not take crap from anyone, and can defend herself against death eaters or snot nosed Slytherins. Despite the fact that her love interest is one of the most powerful wizards ever born, she doesn’t hide behind him or expect him to protect her ever. Here are seven things Ginny taught me about feminism.

1. Feminists are fighters

Ginny was literally possessed by Voldemort. Just think about that for a second, an eleven-year-old child was possessed by the evilest wizard of all time and yet she didn’t break. Voldemort messed with Ginny’s head for an entire year of her life, and then afterwards she picked up the pieces and moved on because she knew she wasn’t going to let it define her. She wasn’t going to be the “poor possessed girl.” Anyone would have understood if Ginny was timid after that trauma, but Ginny spent her whole life fighting with her brothers and other wizards who looked down on her family for being ‘mudblood’ lovers, and she wasn’t going to lose her voice again because she’s a fighter.

2. Feminists aren't weak because they have emotions

Ginny is in love with Harry from the start. We know that from the fact that she sees him one time during the first book as he’s getting on the train and then she won’t stop talking about him all summer. Ginny is not a character that is a static love interest though. She loves Harry, but she is her own person before she is his. Harry couldn’t be with someone who is weak because he is so strong. Ginny is more than her love for the golden boy.

3. Feminists stick up for people who can't stick up for themselves

Starting in the fifth book, Harry starts to hear about Ginny being popular and he even notices it himself. Everyone liked Ginny because she was outgoing and kind. Ginny could have easily used her popularity for her own gain and choose to be extremely cliquey, but she doesn’t. Ginny is friends with
Luna, even though Luna is Hogwarts’s school weirdo. Ginny stands up for Luna no matter what people say to her. Ginny also goes to the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom in the fourth book once again slaying everyone’s expectations for her.

4. Feminists have badass feminist friends

One of my favorite friendships throughout the series is the relationship between Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was raised with six boys and Hermione was raised in the muggle world so they both bring differences to the table. Hermione’s two best friends are Ron and Harry, but Ginny gives her the girl power she needs to be badass.

5. It doesn't matter what a feminist looks like, just that they care.

Ginny is a small girl especially when compared to her brothers, but that doesn’t stop her. One of my favorite things about the wizarding world is the fact that J.K. Rowling made the magic system in a way that your physically body doesn’t determine how powerful you are. This allows a five-foot-tall Ginny to battle grown men death eaters throughout the series. Ginny is just as good if not better than her brothers at defensive spells throughout the series.

6. Feminists don't play by the rules

Ginny is the youngest of seven, not to mention she’s the only girl. That is two factors working against her simultaneously to bring her down. Ginny wasn’t allowed to play quidditch with her brothers as a child. It might have been because she was the youngest or it might have been because of her gender, but either way she wasn’t given the opportunity. It comes out in the fifth book that Ginny taught herself Quidditch by sneaking out to their broom shed and practicing herself. Ginny didn’t let her brothers or anyone else hold her back, and she ends up being a chaser for the Holly Harpies, a famous all-women’s Quidditch team. Ten points for Gryffindor! 

7. Feminists like challenges

Ginny is only 16 during the seventh book when the wizarding world is in the middle of the biggest war it had ever seen. She doesn’t hide from it though; she faces it head on. Ginny, along with Luna and Neville, keep Dumbledore’s army going while Harry, Ron, and Hermione are away looking for horcruxes. She keeps the good side alive and well inside of Hogwarts. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she’s told that she should stay hidden and not fight, but Ginny refuses. She will not run away from a fight everyone she loves is allowed to fight in. She will not be told that because she’s only a teenage girl she can’t fight. She rises to the challenge in front of her.

Ginny knows what she wants and how to get it while also staying true to herself along the way. We need strong female characters. Be a Ginny.