HARRY POTTER & THE

CULTURE OF DIVERSITY
How the Harry Potter Series Can Reduce Prejudice and Promote
Understanding

Theri Wyckoff
College of Southern Nevada
 ABSTRACT
• Research: Reading the Harry Potter series leads to more empathy
toward others.

• Diversity Issues in each of the Harry Potter books

• See the Harry Potter series through “A New Pair of Glasses”

 RESEARCH: THE REAL MAGIC OF
HARRY POTTER
• Vezzali, Stathi, and Giovanni, et al. (2015)
• Research Question:
Does extended contact through reading Harry Potter series
improve children and young adults’ attitudes
towards outgroups (Immigrants, homosexuals, refugees)?
• Harry Potter series chosen for
• Popularity
• Fantasy (KEY!)
• Results: Attitudes toward outgroups improved!
 WIZARDS VS MUGGLES
BOOK 1
• Sets up Major Race Conflict

• J.K. Rowling, Amnesty International

SORTING INTO HOGWARTS’
HOUSES

• Division & Divisiveness

• Socioeconomic classes

• Opportunities

• World view
 WIZARD TYPES
BOOK 2
Pure Bloods vs “Blood Traitors”
 WIZARD TYPES
BOOK 2
Mudbloods and Half-Bloods
 HOUSE ELVES
BOOK 2
Slaves or Willing Servant Race?
 WEREWOLVES
BOOK 3
• Predator vs Victim

• J.K. Rowling Mother’s Illness

 GIANTS
BOOK 4
• “Savage”

• Going extinct
 CENTAURS
BOOK 5

• “Filthy Half-Breeds”

• Ostracized by herd for

interacting with Wizards
FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

• Early books: stereotypical

females

• Later books: Females Strong Role

Models
HARRY POTTER GENERATION

• Millennials

• Greater Empathy

• Resistance

• Children Next
Generation
 REFERENCES
Bassham, G. (Ed.). (2010). The ultimate Harry Potter and philosophy: Hogwarts for muggles. Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons.
Green, A.M. (2009). Revealing discrimination: Social hierarchy and the exclusion/enslavement of the other in
the Harry Potter novels. The Looking Glass: New Perspectives on Children’s Literature, (13)3
https://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/ojs/index.php/tlg/article/view/162/161
Hallett, C.J. & Huey, P.J. (2012). J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter. NY, NY: Palmgrave Mcmillan.
Pazdziora, J.P. & Snell, M. (Eds.). (2015). Ravenclaw reader: Seeking the artistry and meaning of J.K.
Rowling’s Hogwarts Saga. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Unlocking Press.
Prinzi, T. (2011). Harry Potter for nerds: Essays for fans, academics, and lit geeks. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
Unlocking Press.
Schafer, E.D. (2000). Exploring Harry Potter. Osprey, FL: Beachem Publishing Corp.
Vezzali, L., Stathi, S., Giovannini, D., et al. (2015). The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 45: 105 – 121. doi: 10.11111/jasp.12279
 PHOTO CREDITS
All photos and illustrations courtesy of Pottermore: The Digital Heart of the
Wizarding World https://www.pottermore.com/