@Hattori:
Oda's characterization of men in and of itself is fine. It's only when you look at their relationships with women that a problem arises. Hence the topic.
Because Oda is sexist. Have I not made this clear enough? There is a clear difference between the roles of men and women in the series, which is NOT A GOOD THING. Using one of the very problems at the core of the issue to support your claim is not helping your case in the least.
Predisposition does not exist in One Piece. This literally flies in the face of every inch of the thematic world Oda has built. Do you think Luffy is as strong as he is because he's Dragon's son? Do you really think Oda would include genetic shit like that in his work? This isn't Naruto.
You can say as well, that characterization of women is likewise fine unless you put them next to men. And I thing you are to accepting seeing that you have no criticism for One Piece males as you have for females. Some things should at least get one thinking if it's good or bad.
I can't see how deciding to make women physically weaker than man in a fictional universe has to be automatically qualified as sign of sexism. Since the women are physically weaker in real world it can't be seen as hurtful portrayal. And it's not like there are no exceptions of that rule either. Are all difference between roles of sexes bad? I've always thought that understanding and respecting differences is basis of healthy society. I think that there exist a brand of feminism that wants to negate all the differences between sexes, but unfortunately it's both unrealistic and hurtful to both man and women. Especially women, as strangely, man are seen as some kind of norm, and all things associated with gender role of man are seen as more valuable (that coming from history) so women to be seen as more worthwhile need to act the same way man does. Femininity is still less acceptable than masculinity, even those who are physically female attain status of equal. And it's hurtful to both, as it denies people their identity.
Of course most of different treatment both sexes are subdue to are hurtful, especially to females, because it's based on false assumptions and prejudices. But if difference in treatment is based on difference in actual predispositions it is beneficing to both individuals and society. But thats topic for whole different discussion.
But perhaps you don't understand why I used this argument in the first place. I only used it to show why I think, that women, in One Piece, are by nature, physically weaker, than men. Note that my claim was only that - all I've touched is situation in universe, sometimes compared to real world. I've never stated anywhere that, I don't think Oda is sexist.
Not sure how I can not be helping my cause. Even if I state faulty argument, as long as there is someone to correct me or point it out to me it's fine. As long as I can learn more being right or wrong in my initial beliefs doesn't matter. I want to learn, I want other people to learn, who wins the discussion doesn't matter. The discussion may as well remain unresolved. As long as at least one side is learning something from it, it's good. That's why I'm not giving up in disputes easily.
Some people would probably argue with use about predestination not existing in One Piece world. I won't since I don't believe in predestination. I can only note you that it has nothing to do with my argument whatsoever. Predestination is idea of teleological way of thinking. In context of discussing predispositions it would meant that somebody is especially gifted to fulfill destiny. So we can't be talking about causative reasoning like genetic predispositions.
I think that main reason Luffy is as strong as he is because he went through shit load of training, however it may be possible that to obtain all that strength he would have to train even more if he would come from family with "weaker" genes (pardon the expression) if he suffered from some serious illness in childhood or if he was born a girl. Not all the people undergone same training have same amount of strength - people some predispositions - to some extent, greater in One Piece world than in ours it can be overcome with more training and devotion, but thats not denying fact of predispositions existing. Moreover it's disrespectful to people who overcome their lack of certain predispositions by working hard to deny that. And again you're only quoting part of what I said, while in later part I claimed that woman can be the greatest without being physically stronger simply by using her other talents.
