Ask John: Is There a Meaning to Female Exploitation in Robot Anime?

Question:
In a lot of mecha anime, there’s an apparent trend in the antagonists having young women fighting for their side in a way that is utterly exploiting them (e.g. various Gundam series, Overman King Gainer, Eureka Seven). What kind of message or implication is made with these characters? Are these characters created out of some underlying theme of gender roles or sexism?

Answer:
This is an intriguing observation, but I’m not convinced that it’s one with a singular explanation. The concept of a female underling, especially one serving a male commander, isn’t actually limited to just mecha anime, and the implications of the status vary depending on how the relationship is portrayed. Females in subservient positions do sometimes seem to reinforce a sexist agenda. However, in certain instances females in the same position play an entirely opposite role.

Numerous robot anime including Gundam installments like Zeta Gundam, Gundam ZZ, and Char’s Counterattack, Eureka Seven, Zeorymer, and non-robot anime such as Sengoku Basara, Excel Saga, Akihabara Cyber Team, and Elfen Lied depict male rulers or leaders that seemingly exploit the efforts of female underlings. The symbolism of a male ruler or commander that commands a female servant or warrior is, or can be, an empowering image for men. Even in an entirely chaste relationship, the mere status quo of the man giving orders to the woman reinforces a stereotype of male dominance and the idea of masculine rationality and discipline maintaining order over female emotionality. This biased gender relationship is exemplary of the larger external Japanese social milieu in which women are expected to serve men. Countless anime, and even live action Japanese films like last year’s Yogisha X no Kenshin continue to depict working women expected to serve tea to their male co-workers. At the same time, the inclusion of female henchmen also serves the practical purpose of just diversifying the cast. I do think it’s revealing that typically robot anime targeted at preadolescent boys, particularly shows like Baratack and the Yuusha series, don’t employ female antagonistic fighters, possibly to avoid depicting boys beating up, or being beaten up by girls to an impressionable audience of young boys. Seemingly exploited female characters typically appear only in anime targeted at adolescent or young adult male viewers. The situation is a little different in shoujo anime. For example, every Pretty Cure series includes a female antagonist serving under a male ruler. Shoujo anime, however, may utilize female antagonists to give girl viewers characters to relate to.

Initially the imagery of a male commander ordering around a female soldier may seem sexist. However, this situation is often undermined. Exploited female pilots Anemone from Eureka Seven, Miharu from Gasaraki, and Soma Peries in Gundam OO eventually recognize and assert their self-determination. Females including Afrodia from the 1980 Space Warrior Baldios television series and Yokoyama Misawa from this year’s RideBack are particularly seditious examples because despite being second in command to men, these women are far more intelligent and competent than the commanders they serve. If we expand observation to include second in command female characters who aren’t antagonists, such as Macross’ Misa Hayase and Gundam X’s Sala Tyrrell, the supportive female character emerges as an example of the “behind every good man…” adage.

I may be guilty of wanting to be too lenient on anime, but I honestly believe that the primary motivation for the depiction of female underlings is to add diversity to anime casts. It may be stereotypical to assume that women are more easily manipulated into easily exploitable servant roles, but anime like the current Shangri-la and Queen’s Blade television series that depict men serving under dominant females provide counterweight. I can’t defuse the criticism that exploited female characters reflect a degree of Japanese sexism. But ending the statement there tells only half of the story. I believe in the progressive liberalism of anime, and believe that anime, perhaps unconsciously, frequently introduces these types of gender stereotyped roles in order to satirize them and illustrate gradual movement away from them.