Shonen anime might be well known for their action and intense themes, but not always for their female character representation, a trope that Eiichiro Oda broke with One Piece. In an interview with The New York Times, Eiichiro Oda commented:
In the manga I read as a kid, there was always a point where the heroine existed just to be rescued. That didn’t sit well with me; I didn’t want to create a story about women being kidnapped and saved. I depict women who know how to fight for themselves and don’t need to be saved.
-Eiichiro Oda
When the female characters in One Piece do need help, they are pulled out of the situation by their nakama, and the women do the same for their comrades. Characters like Nico Robin, Nami, Boa Hancock, and others are prime examples of Oda’s philosophy.
Eiichiro Oda Challenged Shonen Stereotypes of Women in One Piece
In plenty of Shonen anime, especially in old-school ones, female characters fall into the damsel-in-distress stereotype. They are reduced to characters who are always in need of being rescued from their predicaments. Their roles are either limited to love interests, healers, or tsundere troublemakers.
However, the women in One Piece are immensely powerful. Nami is one of the best navigators, Nico Robin is strong enough to have survived on her own since her childhood, and Boa Hancock is the captain of the Kuja Pirates, empress of Amazon Lily, and a Warlord of the Sea. There are plenty of other strong women in One Piece, like Vivi, Yamato, Shirahoshi, Jewelry Bonney, and more.
Each of these characters has a tragic past, and they have overcome their struggles on their own accord, with a little help from their friends. The women in One Piece are not only independent but also resourceful. At the same time, Oda isn’t against female characters being helped by others, but he recognizes that heroines always have to wait around for a savior.
The Struggles of One Piece‘s Women Show Their Growth, Not Vulnerability
Most Shonen anime portray women as objects of male devotion and love. Most of the time, their own backstories are skipped, making them shallow characters. Yet, in One Piece, every major female character receives their deserved backstory. These backstories are often emotionally charged with a heavy dose of tragedy.
Nami‘s entire childhood was stolen by Arlong, along with her adoptive mother. Nico Robin lost her childhood to the evils of the World Government and was pursued by them till she could trust no one. Vivi was forced away from her own country and struggled to save it.
Each of these backstories shows the humane side of these characters. Their past does not make them weak and reliant on others, but instead shapes them to be independent and powerful women.
Here is a list of some of the most impactful female characters in One Piece:
| One Piece Female Character | Position |
| Nami | Navigator of Straw Hats |
| Nico Robin | Archaeologist and fighter |
| Boa Hancock | Captain of Kuja Pirates, Empress of Amazon Lily, Warlord of the Sea |
| Vivi | Princess of Alabasta |
| Big Mom | Yonko |
What do you think about the female characters in One Piece? Do you think they cross stereotypes to affect the narrative? Let us know in the comments below.
The One Piece anime is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
