I'm tired of manga (especially shoujo, ironically) where the woman is victimized and discriminated against. Where the girl gets raped or molested and bears it in silence fearing the consequences, or worse, falls in love with the rapist. Tired of josei where the issue of sexism in the workplace is raised but never rebutted against. Tired of shounens and seinen where women are just trophies and boob panels.

Anger against Sanctuary: This has got to be one of the most chauvinistic mangas I've ever read. The only slightly capable woman in this was the policewoman, and then

So I'm looking for mangas where the issue of sexism is actually raised and objected against. Where women aren't doormats or blowup sex toys.

http://1.p.s.mfcdn.net/store/manga/7899/01-002.0/compressed/m coy_v1_ch2_pg019_evil_flowers.jpg

I've never read this manhwa so I wouldn't know what it actually is like, but is that some sort of feminist thinking I see?!

Kimi wa pet brings up the issue, but she's only ever really the victim. Nothing is done to change the situation.

Free virtual banana sundae to replies! :3

*edit: I don't know why there are 2 threads. Please delete one! >.<*

*edit again: I brought up some examples in later posts. I'll add them here too.*

9 Banme no Musashi doesn't exactly address the issue, but everyone's assumption of her masculinity alludes to it... it's a half-@ssed example at best.

Kaze Hikaru shows the heroine disguising her sex in order to achieve her dreams, and in the process breaking the misconceptions of her peers who do know the truth

Oishii Kankei: Heroine tries to break into traditionally male-dominated career.

Hataraki Man: "works like a man"

Lady Mitsuko:

Plastic girl (FURUYA Usamaru)

Nonetheless, I've still never found a series that deals with the problem head on.

Last edited by wenbo at 9:37 am, Jan 2 2011

1/2 Prince raises the issue of females always having to be the innocent and dependent ones, though the novel, 1/2 Prince (Novel), gets a bit deeper into it, so I recommend that more.

Shitsurakuen

Last edited by Blique at 8:06 pm, Dec 29 2010

I highly recommend Seigi no Mikata. The older sister fights back against sexism in the workplace, has a husband who respects her, and is just the opposite of the typical weak female lead. It's really too bad scanlations are on hold.

I think the issue is also raised in Talking About... where one of the women's boyfriends is the conservative type, and he is criticized.

________________
Avatar by tassyn.livejournal.com

Reading: Kingdom, Sangokushi, Historie

The series in the pic is Crush on You. I've only read two chapters, but I don't think feminism is discussed at all...

For suggestions...
Yotteke! Otoko Mura -- kind of works because she hates boys and insists she can do everything they can.
Koukou Kyuuji Zawa-san -- honestly, I've only read three chapters so I can't really say but it seems like the sort of manga that might address sexism.
Doubt!! -- maybe? She doesn't really object to sexism though... more like, she's pro-girlpower?

IIRC, Space Ship EE
And, uh ... Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge? I might be totally off-base though.

Confidential Confessions
Yes, females inside this story has issued with woman's abuse and prostitution, but they act to solve their issues.

________________

Thanks for all the posts so far! *throws sundaes around*

@ Blique: I haven't read 1/2 prince yet but it sounds so interesting that I'll definitely check it out. Girl who stands up for herself? I'm in. I read the first chapter of Shitsurakuen so I'll go back to that, but my worry is that they might trivialize the sexism, with the echii and harem. I hope the girls don't all end up with slave personalities >.<

@ Odette: Seigi no Mikata is a great example! I love how she handed the in-laws and her boss. She's so kickass. <3 Talking About... sounds like it'll show some pretty realistic depictions of chauvinism.

@ Magical_Poof: That's too bad, but I think I'll read Crush on You for the sensible female character anyways. They're as rare as unicorns. Purple unicorns. The heroine in Koukou Kyuuji Zawa-san really does show a passive resistance towards sexism. I've only read a few chapters as well. As far as Doubt!! goes, I'm not really sure whether it addresses sexism. She's certainly a strong-willed character, but fighting superficially for an absolute asshole of a boyfriend... it feels like she'll always make him sandwiches.

@Aikanaro: Space Ship EE sounds so cool! I can't believe I haven't heard of it before. As for Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge... she certainly stands up for herself XD



Last edited by wenbo at 4:59 pm, Dec 30 2010

Why are all my posts double-posting? 0_0

Last edited by wenbo at 4:55 pm, Dec 30 2010

Space Ship EE is great! It's by the famed Aya Takano of the Superflat movement.
Moonlight Flowers has feminist themes, with plenty of old-fashioned manhating in the mix.
Peepo Choo's female main is a Japanese feminist model who dreams of moving away from her country to somewhere where women are treated as equals. Note that though this manga is published in Japan, it's written by an American, so it goes by mostly American philosophy. Also note that this is ecchi, which does tend to be pretty anti-feminist.

You could check out the works of Hagio Moto. They usually aren't explicitly feminist, but she has said in interviews that she writes with a feminist motivation. Marginal has been read this way. Check out the rest of the Year 24 Group, too, like Ooshima Yumiko and Ikeda Riyoko.

Try looking up the winners of the Sense of Gender Awards, an award given out by a Japanese feminist science fiction association. Oooku won in 2005.

Last edited by akari_mizunashi at 1:55 pm, Dec 30 2010

In an odd way, the visual novel Katawa Shoujo.

@Akari_mizunashi: I love your taste for retro shoujos! Too bad there aren't many of them circulating anymore. I've read a few of Hagio Moto's works but really only her short series. They were enjoyable, so I'll have to take a second look at all of her series. You've given me a lot of leads to follow

@Drolemil: I downloaded it. Looks really interesting!

Any more??

@Drolemil: LOL! The feminist conspiracy?

Just to add some more of my own in case anyone is interested:

9 Banme no Musashi doesn't exactly address the issue, but everyone's assumption of her masculinity alludes to it... it's a half-@ssed example at best.

Kaze Hikaru shows the heroine disguising her sex in order to achieve her dreams, and in the process breaking the misconceptions of her peers who do know the truth

Oishii Kankei: Heroine tries to break into traditionally male-dominated career.

Hataraki Man: "works like a man"

Lady Mitsuko:

Plastic girl (FURUYA Usamaru)

Nonetheless, I've still never found a series that deals with the problem head on.

Last edited by wenbo at 9:37 am, Jan 2 2011