Leviosa

It is not uncommon in fannish discussion for the topic of female marginalisation in slash to rear its head. We will consider the marginalisation of female sexuality through a different lens, with a focus on femmeslash and ageism. Focusing on the changing face of HP femmeslash, we will ask whether there is a propensity for fan communities to be influenced by mainstream and Western cultural 'norms' when it comes to physical beauty and sexuality, which marginalises older female characters by suggesting implicitly (through lack of representation) that once a woman reaches a certain age, they are past their prime. We invite discussion around the visibility of older female characters in fanworks, the works of the OLSB, the demise of HP Beholder and participation in communities such as Minerva Fest, Hoggywartyxmas and HP Goldenage to consider the extent to which older characters remain visible as sexual beings in modern HP fandom. Is there an insinuation (through lack of visibility) that erotica should only be the domain of the young and the beautiful? In writing and drawing female characters, are there risks of implicit acceptance of patriarchal standards of beauty which an alternative space would usually be expected to interrogate and challenge?