Chi Chi: Should she have had more of a role in DB?

[Rocketman]

No... Chi-chi isn't a bitch for being over protective... Chi-chi is a psychotic bitch who is so desperate for man-meat that she seems to give her "heart" to any man she crosses in the street during her pre-teens. Let's not forget she was seconds away from fixing her obsession on Yamcha.

Sounds a lot like a preteen girl to me, she got struck hard enough on the head to be knocked unconscious, and Yamcha's not that bad looking.

Then in her young adulthood, she hunts down a boy she knew for, apparently, one afternoon. A boy who evidently had no concept of sexual dimorphism and had to pat her crotch to figure out what she was. Despite this man-child having completely forgotten about her, possessing no knowledge of marriage and showing a strong distaste in having physical contact with her... she forces him to marry her.

Culture of arranged marriage, as well as lack of knowledge of the idiocy of Goku. If someone grabs your crotch, what are you gonna assume?

Regardless, after having her prized child, she treats her former object of obsession with so much spite that she has no qualms about literally leaping over his broken, bleeding body without so much as a glance to check on her son.

Five years of living with Goku.

After which, she vehemently refuses to acknowledge Goku's pain despite the fact that, last she heard, he sacrificed his life to save her spawn and had been dead for a year.

No, the last she heard was that Piccolo killed Goku and kidnapped Gohan.

Chi-chi is an awful, disturbed character who stalks and subsequently abuses the man she forced into marriage while simultaneously denying her son's natural gifts and interests to suit her desires.

You mean like his scholarly inclinations? Or is it alright to "deny natural gifts and interests" if Goku does it?

[MisterFlashdude]

I'll agree to disagree about Chi-chi. Debating her mental state is a ridiculous waste of time and won't change her standing in either of our minds. You idolize her and I think she should be a case study.
But I would like to offer a few counter points for the sake of perspective.

Culture of arranged marriage, as well as lack of knowledge of the idiocy of Goku.

A marriage she arranged... herself, with someone you're pointing out she knew nothing about.

Five years of living with Goku.

I have no problem conceding the fact that once Chi-chi had, in fact, spent more than a handful of hours with him, as opposed to the years of disturbing fantasy and idolization she endured, she could realize what an awful relationship she'd entered... Deep seeds of resentment would be sown in place of baseless expectations. She'd need to shift her focus... make up for the years she spent dreaming about a man she knew nothing about... If she couldn't change Goku, maybe she could... no, no... Bad Mr.Flashdude, I said I'd stay away from her mental state...

No, the last she heard was that Piccolo killed Goku and kidnapped Gohan.

That's what she chose to hear. Just like she chose to hear that Goku had put her son in danger when, in fact, it was the demon that killed him and kidnapped Gohan while Goku had swooped in on a magic cloud to save Gohan at just the last moment. See, she's already fully transferred her obsession from the man she convinced herself she knew to the boy she means to ch-... DAMN IT! I just can't stop...

You mean like his scholarly inclinations? Or is it alright to "deny natural gifts and interests" if Goku does it?

Goku never forced Gohan to stop studying in the manner his mother forced him to never engage in physical training. In a normal world, a boy can balance both. But in a Dragonball world? With a boy who's temper tantrums can bring out a destructive power that could level mountains? I think... maybe... a tiny bit of priority should be given to getting that under control.
No, Chi-chi has to mold Gohan into her ideal man after her world of sick fantasies crashed around her in a life with... ah, man, it's just unavoidable... I'm sorry, I'll stop now...

[Rocketman]

A marriage she arranged... herself, with someone you're pointing out she knew nothing about.

Ox-King brings it up first, offering her as a bride to Goku just for finding her.

I have no problem conceding the fact that once Chi-chi had, in fact, spent more than a handful of hours with him, as opposed to the years of disturbing fantasy and idolization she endured, she could realize what an awful relationship she'd entered... Deep seeds of resentment would be sown in place of baseless expectations. She'd need to shift her focus... make up for the years she spent dreaming about a man she knew nothing about... If she couldn't change Goku, maybe she could... no, no... Bad Mr.Flashdude, I said I'd stay away from her mental state...

Indeed.

That's what she chose to hear.

No, that's what she was told. I'm looking at DBZ vol. 2 right now.

Goku never forced Gohan to stop studying in the manner his mother forced him to never engage in physical training.

Only because Chichi was a constant, unlike Goku's long sojourns off by himself. Do you really think that Goku would put any weight on academic pursuits when they could be sparring or training if there was no input from Chichi at all?

In a normal world, a boy can balance both. But in a Dragonball world? With a boy who's temper tantrums can bring out a destructive power that could level mountains? I think... maybe... a tiny bit of priority should be given to getting that under control.

Gohan never showed any of that power until he attacked Raditz, though.

And don't forget that Goku's training would come from how he was taught by Master Roshi. I cannot blame Chichi for saying no to stinging a four year old with bees or making him run for his life from sharks and dinosaurs.

No, Chi-chi has to mold Gohan into her ideal man after her world of sick fantasies crashed around her in a life with... ah, man, it's just unavoidable... I'm sorry, I'll stop now...

I think that's a little harsh. A handsome husband, a comfortable steady home life, and a successful child may not be the most progressive fantasies, but I'd hardly call them sick.

[TripleRach]

A marriage she arranged... herself, with someone you're pointing out she knew nothing about.

Ox-King brings it up first, offering her as a bride to Goku just for finding her.

That's just a coincidence. Gokuu had no idea what any of those words meant, and Chichi wasn't around at the time. She independently decided she had to marry him after he kicked her in the crotch.

She probably discussed it with her dad later (especially if you count filler material), but they each had the idea on their own first.

[Fin]

And that is why everybody who hates Chichi has tiny balls.

In my defence, I hate Chichi because I think she's poorly used by Toriyama. Considering the kind of crazy shit that happens to her I think most of her reactions are fairly reasonable, but Toriyama plays them for laughs. I don't really find it funny, just annoying and kind of sexist.

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Chichi is a gag. Accept it, find it funny. Or don't.

Dude, we're on Daizex. Here, we apply real-world Female Psychology to a gag character from a cartoon show.

[caejones]

I think Rocketman and Mr. Flashdude both made solid points, considering that Rocketman was commenting on Z-ChiChi and how people react to her, and Mr. Flashdude was talking about her progression from start to finish. XD

*Tempted to curse Pandora's box* *Just for existing, 'cause couldn't read it "if" wanted to*

[Turtle Marked Stone]

Take note of the responses above

I personally don't like Chi Chi because she's mainly reduced to a boring running gag in the anime. I don't care for many running gags in anime to begin with. Roshi is just as annoying as her to me in the TV show because of how often they played out his shtick. Just clarifying my stance.

[Ahiru77]

I had enough of her.

I totally second this. There's not a writer in the world that can make Chi Chi likeable. (u_u)

Correct me if I'm wrong but are you asking for a challleeeeeeennnnnge?
*Opens notepad*

That's right, the challenge of making Chi-chi likeable.

.....and the first page just informed me that Rocketman won the thread. *run and hides*

[Godo]

*Tempted to curse Pandora's box* *Just for existing, 'cause couldn't read it "if" wanted to*

Oh, believe me, you don't want to read it. It's pure Freudian Complex concentrated in a comic. Obviously the author has the hots for his mom and other moms in general.

Regarding the topic, I have a few things I want to add.

Chichi overall is a pretty unused character.
Sure, one could add the fact that she met Goku once and wanted to marry him just like that, but one has to remember that she probably grew up without many males around.
And going by her father being a martial artist, herself a martial artist, and pretty much anyone they knew a martial artist too, having Goku, who was really strong, makes him a good candidate for a strong and protecting husband.
Remember that Chichi even sparred with Goten when Gohan wasn't home, indicating that martial arts have a great role in their lives.
With Gohan, I guess that Chichi wanted for their family to take a better turn, and to give Gohan a better and more financially secure life. I mean, I doubt that Chichi forced Gohan to study science, it's more probable that he liked it himself (to the extent that he in the future became a scientist himself).
What Chichi did was to help Gohan out in reaching his dreams, and to encourage him to do his best, just like any sane mother would do.
Just like she sparred with Goten since his greatest interest seemed to be fighting at that time.

And for her to be worried and to try to stop Gohan from fighting; after her witnessing the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and watching her husband risking his life and all life at Earth just for the World Championship title, I doubt that she wanted for Gohan to be with Goku fighting. She couldn't be sure that Goku with all his heart protected Gohan all the time (just look at the Cell games, instead of making Cell force Gohan to unleash his power, Goku could have made Gohan train to achieve it and save lots of injuries and hurt feelings).
And for all her rage moments, well, some people tend to get angry when worried or sad. Just look at Vegeta as an example.

All in all, Chichi didn't have much "screentime", but at least she was a good mother. To claim that she wasn't puts you into the Manchild category Rocketman nicely created in his post.
I liked her as a character, and it was nice to see her as Goku's responsible half, taking up all the duties when Goku didn't (like when abandoning his family several times).

[LeprikanGT]

Yet for some reason......... they still cower before the power of raw bitchitude of Bulma and Chichi.

That is one of the things about the show I hate the VERY most. I'm not hit them but don't act like a little b*tch when they yell.

And actually, why not hit them? If they want to be "equals" there shouldn't be that 'oh, you shouldn't hit a woman'. that just more proves that they are weaker.

[Bussani]

Yet for some reason......... they still cower before the power of raw bitchitude of Bulma and Chichi.

That is one of the things about the show I hate the VERY most. I'm not hit them but don't act like a little b*tch when they yell.

And actually, why not hit them? If they want to be "equals" there shouldn't be that 'oh, you shouldn't hit a woman'. that just more proves that they are weaker.

Stop proving Rocketman's point.

Goku never forced Gohan to stop studying in the manner his mother forced him to never engage in physical training.

I never get it when people say this. The only time she seemed to "force" him to never physically train was up to the age of 4. She allowed Gohan to be trained in preparations for the androids with the understanding that he'd quit martial arts after that. She then allowed Goku to train Gohan further in preparation for the Cell Game and even told Goku to make him as strong as he could. This was directly after Goku returned from being missing in space for over a year, and he was missing because he went to get Gohan, who was getting his neck broken by aliens and who was in space against her wishes in the first place.

Anime filler makes her bitchier, of course. That's like a universal law of filler when it comes to female characters.

[MisterFlashdude]

It's true that at about three-fourths of the way through the story, Chi-chi's crazy lessens. This only seems to occur once her child screams at her and flies off into space. I assume after this she finally gets herself on some medication and finds a good counselor to help her through her issues. She seems to raise Goten with much more leniency and shows an appropriate amount of affection for Goku once he's been dead for a while. Sadly, it's still completely one-sided.

[LeprikanGT]

My point proven = How many people rushed towards Super Buu on the Lookout just to die? One, and it was Chi Chi and she was turned into an egg and DIED just because she doesn't know when to sit down and shut up.

[Gaffer Tape]

Yet for some reason......... they still cower before the power of raw bitchitude of Bulma and Chichi.

That is one of the things about the show I hate the VERY most. I'm not hit them but don't act like a little b*tch when they yell.

And actually, why not hit them? If they want to be "equals" there shouldn't be that 'oh, you shouldn't hit a woman'. that just more proves that they are weaker.

Stop proving Rocketman's point.

Well, while he could have stated it more eloquently, I think his post has some merit in a general sense. Unfortunately, this is a Dragon Ball forum, not a forum for gender roles and their places in society. So simply in the context of Dragon Ball, I have to disagree with him. Bulma and Chichi, gender aside, simply ARE much, much, much, much weaker than any of the main fighting characters. The one time we see Goku give his wife a friendly slap on the arm, he launches her through the side of the house. So... Chichi's really not the kind of person Goku should be hitting. And he doesn't. I agree that Bulma and Chichi should not be exploiting the men's weaknesses (vulnerability to browbeating and screaming) when there's an unspoken bond that the men won't exploit the women's weaknesses (lack of physical strength), but, again, this is not a forum for the discussion of society and gender, so, instead, I will just say that Goku knocking Chichi through the house makes me laugh, and so does Chichi bitching at Goku. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes a joke is just a joke.

[LeprikanGT]

I'll agree this isn't the place for gender discussions, but I think we saw too much of ChiChi in Z and maybe needed one or two more scenes of her in DB.

[Rocketman]

My point proven = How many people rushed towards Super Buu on the Lookout just to die? One, and it was Chi Chi and she was turned into an egg and DIED just because she doesn't know when to sit down and shut up.

Because sitting down and shutting up kept everybody else alive.


Wait...


Also, way to go on betraying your secret desire to hit women.

[Kid Buu]

I enjoyed her fight with Goku, and that one second of fame she gets in Lord Slug.

[LeprikanGT]

My point proven = How many people rushed towards Super Buu on the Lookout just to die? One, and it was Chi Chi and she was turned into an egg and DIED just because she doesn't know when to sit down and shut up.

Because sitting down and shutting up kept everybody else alive.


Wait...


Also, way to go on betraying your secret desire to hit women.

I was just pointing out the double standard of "A woman wants to be treated equal but they pull out the 'you cant hit a woman' card". So yes, I'd wanted to punch a girl square in the face just like I've wanted to punch a guy in the face; everyone has that feeling.

[Fin]

My point proven = How many people rushed towards Super Buu on the Lookout just to die? One, and it was Chi Chi and she was turned into an egg and DIED just because she doesn't know when to sit down and shut up.

Because sitting down and shutting up kept everybody else alive.


Wait...


Also, way to go on betraying your secret desire to hit women.

I was just pointing out the double standard of "A woman wants to be treated equal but they pull out the 'you cant hit a woman' card". So yes, I'd wanted to punch a girl square in the face just like I've wanted to punch a guy in the face; everyone has that feeling.

So? You're acting like feminism is inherently broken or all women are hypocrites just because of a few people you've met.