Where’s Ginny Weasley?
Ginny Weasley is the 15th-most-mentioned character in the Harry Potter series. Did you know that? 771 times, to be exact. Yet she seems to be the most forgotten character. Everyone knows who she is – Ron’s younger sister, Harry’s future wife, Neville’s first date – but she’s unable to stand alone as an independent character known for her Bat-Bogey Hex or her brainpower. Ginny is also the only character who could understand and sympathize with Harry in terms of being possessed by Voldemort.
That’s book Ginny. Movie Ginny is someone else, and frankly, it is surprising they chose to include her in the Quidditch scenes in the films considering how often her role is diminished. One staff member’s significant other has even referenced Ginny as “the random chick that ended up in that chamber?”
In a post-Potter world, Ginny seems nonexistent. There are barely any Funkos of Ginny at all. There are multiple Harrys, Rons, and Hermiones. Neville, Luna, and Draco have their own, and multiple Fred and George Funkos are in stores. Where’s Ginny?
J.K. Rowling has stated, “There’s this group I refer to in private as the ‘big seven,’ and that’s Dan, Rupert, Emma, Matt, Evanna, Bonnie, and Tom. They do not know how much I love them.”
How could one of J.K. Rowling’s “big seven” be missing from so much of the Potter universe?
The illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published on October 4, and Ginny is not in a single drawing. Ginny Weasley is a vital character to this part of the story, and there is not one illustration of her throughout the text. How can that be?
Ginny is in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment in the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey theme park ride at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Ginny never had any character posters the way the trio, Neville, and Draco did.
In terms of merchandise, anything Ginny Weasley is created by fans and sold on sites such as Cafepress, Etsy, Redbubble, etc. Fans can purchase her wand online or at the theme parks, but while doing that, they can also purchase random Death Eaters’ wands. There’s not much exclusivity to that.
Ginny Weasley is a character who, at the age of 12, was possessed by Lord Voldemort. She breaks her ankle during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, yet she keeps fighting. She takes over for Harry as Gryffindor Seeker when he is placed in detention with Professor Umbridge and ends up winning a game against her boyfriend at the time, Michael Corner. She lets Harry break up with her, without kicking and screaming, while he takes off to hunt down Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Ginny Weasley almost dies during the Battle of Hogwarts while dueling Bellatrix Lestrange.
She’s a character of strength and compassion, so why is she so sidelined compared to everyone else?
Staff members were asked for their thoughts, which are quoted below. We need more Ginny Weasley in our lives.
She’s more or less watered down to Harry’s love interest (the way Ron is watered down to just comic relief) in the movies, so it’s harder for young girls to really understand and relate to her. They probably feel that it’s difficult to market merchandise for Ginny because only the book fans are crazy about her (meanwhile, Luna translated almost perfectly to the films, so it was less of a struggle for her). The merchandise issue honestly just exposes a huge issue overall with the on-screen character development and its effect on ‘Harry Potter’ as a marketing tool.
– Tabitha R.
It is really upsetting to see such a strong female presence missing from everything. Book Ginny is so strong-willed and an amazing role model (so I believe). It sucks that girls are missing that representation too. It isn’t just Hermione. There are other strong females too!
– Stephanie B.
It makes me so angry! Ginny was so amazing in the books and one of my absolute favorite characters! She was brilliant, gorgeous, and a tomboy who could also girl it up when she felt like it. She was strong, independent, and a total badass. Basically, everything I’ve ever aspired to be.
– Ameythist
