S.P.E.W. Term XVII, Activity #2: The Logistics of Freeing House-Elves

[mandyloo.livejournal.com]

By popular demand, I bring you our next activity- a discussion!

Activity: The Logistics of Freeing House-Elves
Dates: Now until 11:59 pm July 12, MST (5:59 am July 13, UTC)
Points: 10 points for first comment, additional comments 2 points each, up to 30 points. Points for bonus items if you have them.
Details: Hermione was adamant about winning better working conditions, fair wages, and time off for House-Elves. But it takes more than wanting something to make it happen. How would you convince a house-elf that they needed to be free? How would you convince the Ministry that their freedom was necessary?

Initial comments (for 10 points) must be at least 4 sentences long. Additional comments should be at least 2 sentences.

Ideas for talking points:
~ What exactly should we change for House-elves?
~ How would you go about talking to this with the house-elves?
~ How would you bring this up with the Ministry?
~ How would you promote this with the general public?
~ Feel free to reply to others' initial comments when making your later comments. But please be polite! No bashing other people's ideas, but you don't have to agree with them either.

~ Sign each comment with your Name/House! Failure to do so means no points for you!

~ Remember, you must be on the roster to get points, so be sure to sign up before the activity ends!

kilobites , silvertigerx - you will each get +5 bonus points for suggesting this activity, if you participate! :)

Comments

[kissoffools.livejournal.com]

I think the most important thing when it comes to the logistics of freeing house elves is choice. It goes hand-in-hand with knowledge, really. As we saw from Dobby and Winky and the other Hogwarts elves, many of them genuinely enjoy the work they do for wizards. And I don't think we should say that no house elves should be allowed to work for wizards - that's like saying that no human is allowed to be someone's cleaning lady. Some people genuinely enjoy doing that kind of work.

Each house elf should, however, be given that choice. They should be presented with all the facts - other career possibilities, mostly. If they choose to stay and work, lovely. If they choose to pursue something else, they should be allowed to do that. But it should be their choice, not the choice of anyone else.

If an elf does choose to stay and work for a wizarding family, however, I think there should be laws in effect that ensure that they're treated fairly. They should be given wages, and either lodged or fed, and given vacation time and health benefits. Because while they may not be technically human creatures, they speak human language and engage in human activities. Not to mention they're doing someone's job for them. They should be taken care of too. The position of housekeeper should be just that - a job, not a life sentence. And it should be treated as such, with all the same benefits that another job would provide.

Janna/Hufflepuff

[kimberry531.livejournal.com]

So what would you propose the choice be - to be an indentured slave or not to be? If they chose to be... it seems like most House Elves are inherited from family - this makes me wonder how the system would be set up if this were no longer the case.

Kimberly\Gryffindor
3

[prongsy.livejournal.com]

Plus, if choice is between consistancy and a known means of living/surviving and something foreign and unknown, and thus rather scary is that even a choice at all? Very few would pick the mystery prize, I fear, especially not when their way of life is on the line.

Beth | Gryffindor

[cyyt.livejournal.com]

I agree about the laws placed to ensure that house-elves aren't abused. The problem might be making sure that 'behind-the-scenes', house-elf abuse doesn't occur, since the house-elves would never speak ill of their families.

Candice//Gryffindor

[los-york.livejournal.com]

I like your laws about better living conditions for the elves. But I don't have they can make it better because the elves never speak bad about their masters; in which, that could be hard to make in effect.

Olivia//Gryffindor