Quick question.

[Rachael]

I don't watch the anime much and I've gone to Bulbapedia, which has stated that Jessie is a coordinator.

Is she still a regular coordinator? How often does she compete in contests--as much as May and Dawn? The reason I'm asking is because May and Dawn are exclusively coordinators, and Jessie is also a member of Team Rocket, so maybe she doesn't compete as much...?

Also, I've noticed that now all the main female characters are coordinators and all the main male characters are battlers. I'm curious as to whether anyone else has noticed this.

 

[Candy-Musalina]

Jessie competes in every contest dawn enters, and actually she has even participated to 1 more contest in sinnoh than dawn (majolica town contest).
Jessie has 2 ribbons, she makes awesome appeals in contests...she's a coordinator as much as dawn, but she gets less spotlight and sucess than her.

And James/Brock are considered as main characters (even if they don't do much) and are not really true "battlers"...

 

[Dewgong Reign]

She wants a quick break to fame, which is why she regularly cheats. This goes for being the MC at the Grand Fetival too, even Lillian said she was good. She just wants to be famous.

 

[Piplup]

She wants a quick break to fame, which is why she regularly cheats.

Jessie didn't cheat in BF until Harley caused her to do so
Now in Sinnoh she didn't cheat -at all- and actually became more serious about being a Coordinator... she keeps a consistent identity, never cheat (well other than using James' Poké) and actually win sometimes

 

[Dewgong Reign]

^ I'm talking more like in Advanced, stunts like the rainbow Poisonpowder and Harley alliances. But you're right, in BF it was more fair game.

And Jessie contest names, lol. Who's Jesselinda now? I can't keep track.

 

[Cybersai]

Jessie has been a coordinator since the beginning of Hoenn. Back then she used to cheat in contests since she lacked the skill to win, but starting in Sinnoh she's become more competent and won 2 ribbons..

Also, I've noticed that now all the main female characters are coordinators and all the main male characters are battlers. I'm curious as to whether anyone else has noticed this.

What other roles could the female do? We're not going to have two people do Gyms since that's Ash's thing and the only alternative is to have them stand in the background and do nothing.

 

[Piplup]

And Jessie contest names, lol. Who's Jesselinda now? I can't keep track.

Jessbella = Kanto (BF)
Jesslina = Sinnoh
Jesslinda with d = summer school
Jessdiah = TV reporter in Kanto GF / Wallace Cup / Fantina's first ep

Make Ash have a female rival? It ain't that hard.

We're talking about the main characters, not rival
The girl star will always be a Coordinator, no matter what - just like the boy star will always do Gyms
The sidekicks though can be something different so if they ever have 2 girls they can have one that isn't a Coordinator

 

[pokemon fan 132]

As others already mentioned Jessie started to go through coordinator path since beginning of Hoenn,and from back than she has improved alot.Sure she used to cheat during start but as time passed she stopped using tricks,relying on her own strenght and skills making noticeable progress(Battle Frontier and Sinnoh are good indicators).

What other roles could the female do? We're not going to have two people do Gyms since that's Ash's thing and the only alternative is to have them stand in the background and do nothing.

Other alternatives?
Hmm let me think,sure there are other options.Like being pokemon researcher,pokemon ranger,trainer of one type(competing in events appropriate for them),pokemon breeder etc(just few examples of the top of my head).

 

[Piplup]

Other alternatives?
Hmm let me think,sure there are other options.Like being pokemon researcher,pokemon ranger,trainer of one type(competing in events appropriate for them),pokemon breeder etc(just few examples of the top of my head).

But most of these are:
1. Not really something that can make the character truly "star", get a lot of focus on plot and development (you say the girl can be a breeder but see Brock, if Dawn was what Brock is now, she won't have half the spotlight she gets as a Coordinator now)
2. The whole reason to have a girl star in addition to the boy star was to appeal more to girls, that's why they do Contests which is kind of a girly version of Gyms... breeder and the other things you mentioned aren't girly at all

Contests are here to stay, just like Gyms

 

[pokemon fan 132]

But most of these are:
1. Not really something that can make the character truly "star", get a lot of focus on plot and development

It depends what kind of proffesion said character would have.If his goal/quest is more about participating and battling he would receive more screentime and focus.If its the other way around than he probably wouldnt receive more than Brock currently does,though it depends on their goal(of what it consists).

By the way i know that contests are most likely going to stay(though im for a change),i was just pointing out how there are other options aside from gyms and contests too.

 

[Sleet]

Also, I've noticed that now all the main female characters are coordinators and all the main male characters are battlers. I'm curious as to whether anyone else has noticed this.

Because there is no such in-universe aspiration as a "Pokémon cook," "Pokémon secretary," "Pokémon shopper," or "Pokémon math failure." That only leaves ribbons and sparkles as the only possible things girls could be interested in, so they combined them.

In all seriousness, I usually let it slide somewhat, as they do show male coordinators and female battlers quite a bit, and quite prominently. Particularly Wallace and Cynthia.

 

[Rachael]

What other roles could the female do? We're not going to have two people do Gyms since that's Ash's thing and the only alternative is to have them stand in the background and do nothing.

Why? There are tons of other things in the Pokemon world. And why can't we have someone who does battles and contests? Why can't Ash compete in a contest on occasion? Or heck, why not Brock? Or James? And what about Misty? She didn't collect badges, but she didn't "stand around and do nothing."

I think pokemon fan 132 had some excellent ideas.

But most of these are:
1. Not really something that can make the character truly "star", get a lot of focus on plot and development (you say the girl can be a breeder but see Brock, if Dawn was what Brock is now, she won't have half the spotlight she gets as a Coordinator now)
2. The whole reason to have a girl star in addition to the boy star was to appeal more to girls, that's why they do Contests which is kind of a girly version of Gyms... breeder and the other things you mentioned aren't girly at all

1. I like 132's ideas. I think it would be awesome to have a Pokemon ranger or a Pokemon researcher as a female character. Or even a reversal of May and Max--maybe just another male Ash's age who has a little sister, like a Poke Kid.
2. See, this is what bothers me--the idea that "gyms are for boys, contests are for girls." Contests may be something that more girls than boys are into, but I think collecting gym badges is a bit more gender neutral. And why do the main female characters all have to be interested in contests? What so un-"girly" about being a breeder or a researcher?

It irks me because it's only reinforcing the stereotype that girls are only into sparkly, cutesy things. I mean, look at Misty. She could be very vain and loved "girly" things as much as May and Dawn, but she could also kick ass in battle (at least in later episodes).

I'm also getting annoyed because I'm seeing this trend of the female leads being "replaceable." First Misty leaves and is replaced with May and Max, and then they leave and are replaced with Dawn. Brock's "hit on every female between 14 and 40" routine never gets old, yet the female character needs to be replaced every couple of seasons? Give me a break.

And yes, I know that everything is determined by ratings. I'm not blaming the writers for catering to the fans. I think the changes you see in Pokemon are reflected in society--boys aren't allowed to do "girly" things (and those who do are always effeminate), girls are supposed to be into "girly" things and nothing else.

And frankly, it gets old. May was a coordinator, yes. That's fine. I have absolutely no problem with that. But when the next female lead is also a coordinator, and the only female villain who can be considered a "main" character is also a coordinator...Well, that gets old after a while. Come on, let's see some variety here.

Again, I have no problem with a female character being into "girly" things. It's just when ALL the main female characters are ONLY into girly things, that it gets annoying.

 

[ii kanji]

Why can't Ash compete in a contest on occasion?

He does. And Hikari had a gym match vs. Sumomo.

But anyway, here we go again. It's nice to see Weedle and 132 aren't alone

 

[Musashi]

People keep looking at this from a western perspective. This is a Japanese show. That's why the main girls do girly things and the girls will keep be replaced to promote the new games.

 

[Rachael]

He does. And Hikari had a gym match vs. Sumomo.

But anyway, here we go again. It's nice to see Weedle and 132 aren't alone

Good. I'm glad.

...Well, I guess there's nothing left to say, then.

 

[PDL]

People keep looking at this from a western perspective. This is a Japanese show. That's why the main girls do girly things and the girls will keep be replaced to promote the new games.

I'm not sure if it's just a Japanese thing, but girls are still treated a little unfairly when it comes to marketing.

Whenever they decide to market anything to a female audience, the marketers think that "Pink/Pastels = attract more females". The same thing could be said for marketing towards boys (Blue/Bold colors = attract more males".

There is a bit of a double standard though. Females are encouraged to choose either the pink girly product or the blue boy product. No one would bat an eye at that. But if a boy wanted the pink product... Well...

Anyway, while the show has pidgeon-holed the main characters into semi-stereotypical goals, the show has repeatedly shown that it's perfectly fine for the opposite gender to compete in Pokémon battles or contests.

Actually, the only real thing I can think off that could be added to make things more even would be to have Ash have a girl rival, but played up to having the same sort of importance as Paul and Barry.

As for Jessie's role in contests, It's kinda natural since Jessie is an enormous attention whore and that contests are an easy way to fame. It also lets Team Rocket have a role in the contest arc aside from just crashing it and stealing all the Pokémon like they do in most episodes of the show.

 

[Cybersai]

I ask again, what role could they give the main female character if she's not a coordinator?

We're not going to see a girl do Gyms as long as Ash is the main character. Each new girl is of course going to be a co-star, so they're going to wind up getting a bigger role than Misty.

Until the games come up with a new sidequest, they have no choice in the matter. This is why Dawn simply became "another coordinator" rather than something new.

 

[Dewgong Reign]

People keep looking at this from a western perspective. This is a Japanese show. That's why the main girls do girly things and the girls will keep be replaced to promote the new games.

Ahaha, Western audiences are sexist too. *scapes the goat*

I ask again, what role could they give the main female character if she's not a coordinator?

Ummm... Gym Leader? Athlete? Breeder? *Just off the top of my head*

 

[Reggaehype]

We already have Brock as a breeder so as long as he is on the show there probably won't be another breeder as a main character.

 

[Musashi]

Ahaha, Western audiences are sexist too. *scapes the goat*

Yes, but you're much more likely to find it in Japan. All this "I'm a girl and i don't like girly things" doesn't matter because none of us are Japanese.

Ummm... Gym Leader? Athlete? Breeder? *Just off the top of my head*

How could a main female character be a Gym Leader? And an athlete and breeder wouldn't be enough of a quest.