Is Chi-Chi a bad mother (and wife)?

[MediaFanGirl93]

I made this thread in contrast/compassion to the one with the thread for Goku being listed as a Funi dad.

As a mother, I can't say Chi-Chi's bad because while she is depicted as a stereotypical Japanese school mother who pushes her kids to study, she does love her sons, wants what's best for them, and will do anything to protect them. So I don't think she's a bad mother.

As a wife, I always see this one being debated. Whenever I see people call Chi-Chi a bad wife, they usually cite the infamous incident when she ignores a crippled Goku and pays more attention to Gohan. While she was being bad and out of character with the hospital scenes (which is filler, mind you), she has shown many times that she cares for Goku an even nursed him when he had the heart virus. So, I don't think she's a bad wife.

[Gyt Kaliba]

Honestly, just like with the question of Goku as a father and husband, I feel the answer is both yes and no, and that both sides of the debate can often blow it out of proportion.

Is Chi Chi a bad mother? Again...yes and no. She's not a terrible mother, she's not abusive or neglectful, she clearly cares and wants the very best for her son(s)...but almost to the point of it being detrimental. She puts so much focus on Gohan's scholarly pursuits that she doesn't ever seem to stop and wonder if that's really what her son wants (it just sort of lucks out for her that yes, yes it is), or to take into consideration the simple fact that if the Earth is destroyed then there's not exactly a bright future for her son either. She is so overprotective that it's almost a shock that she even lets him outside to play, considering where they live (though I guess most instances of that that I'm thinking of could be filler, like the whole Gohan adventure in DBZ's first episode). At the same time though, it's kind of hard to fault her for that too much, given what a shock to her system seeing Goku get almost killed at the tournament just a few years prior.

And moving on to that, is Chi Chi a bad wife? Once again...yes and no. She's certainly shown to be a lot more concerned with Gohan than she is Goku most of the time, but when your husband is one of the most powerful beings in the universe who is more than capable of taking care of himself, that's a pretty easy way to view things I'd imagine. And while she certainly seems more in love with the idea of being in love than she is in love with Goku...honestly, I'd take it a step further and say that what she's truly the most in love with...is the idea of being in love with Goku. She fixated on him as a young girl, and then probably felt like he'd abandoned her since, by manga standards anyway, he never saw her again until the tournament. While she was a tough little girl, she wasn't necessarily a fighter back when we first saw her, so she clearly became so dedicated to tracking Goku down that she became skilled enough to make it to the Tenkaichi Budokai's actual matches. That shows a lot of dedication (or obsession depending on how you want to take it I guess), when she probably could have easily found any other guy if she'd wanted to. But no, she wanted Goku specifically...she just had no real idea of what she was getting herself into with that.

In the crux of it all, I feel that Chi Chi is a character that I'm never going to fully 'like'. I understand very well where she's coming from, but so much of the material concerning her is showing her at her absolute worst, to the point that I almost want to root for Yajirobe when he suggests hitting her. She doesn't deserve near the hatred that a lot of people throw her way (nor does Goku for that matter), but I don't think the vilifying of her is coming from nowhere either.

[Kamiccolo9]

What determines what makes someone a "good wife?" You could ask a hundred different people from a hundred different places around the world that, and get a hundred different answers. This isn't really an answerable question.

[DBZAOTA482]

Of course she ain't. Anyone who thinks so is just really partial towards Goku and Gohan.

[ABED]

Since it's a cartoon, characteristics are going to be exaggerated, but Chichi is a Tiger Mom, which is a huge deduction. She's not the worst mom, but hardly a great mom either, at least to Gohan. With Goten, I think she's a lot like most moms who have at least two children. She's a lot calmer the second time around. Yes, Goku's death had a lot to do w/ how Goten was treated, but many mothers get a lot calmer w/ their second children b/c they know what to expect. If she had been how she was when

I'd take it a step further and say that what she's truly the most in love with...is the idea of being in love with Goku.

Perhaps, but I given their first meeting, it leads me to believe the person didn't matter that much. At the end of the day I think she loved an abstraction. It's a shame Toriyama didn't want to write a good romance.

she wasn't necessarily a fighter back when we first saw her

What leads you to say that. Her father was a martial artist, and it's clear that she was trained from an early age.

the infamous incident when she ignores a crippled Goku and pays more attention to Gohan.

It's a big moment and always rubs me the wrong way. I know it's supposed to be comedic, but it bugs me.

she has shown many times that she cares for Goku an even nursed him when he had the heart virus. So, I don't think she's a bad wife

Yamcha also helped him. Helping someone doesn't make you in love with someone or a good spouce.

[TheGmGoken]

I would love someone like Chi Chi as my wife and mother of my children. Put the kids first then myself. Doesn't want the kids to be in danger and scolds me when I do. She's a caring loving women. Hardly a bad wife and mother. I think she's a wonderful mom and a decent wife. The average wife doesn't have Super power kids and going by the anime. Goku and Chi Chi had a wonderful life before the Saiyans

[dbboxkaifan]

I would love someone like Chi Chi as my wife and mother of my children. Put the kids first then myself. Doesn't want the kids to be in danger and scolds me when I do. She's a caring loving women. Hardly a bad wife and mother. I think she's a wonderful mom and a decent wife. The average wife doesn't have Super power kids and going by the anime. Goku and Chi Chi had a wonderful life before the Saiyans

1) Chichi didn't care about what Gohan really wanted to be when he'd grow up, he got used to it and became what she planned.

2) She doesn't put them in danger? She at first didn't seem to allow Gohan on the Tenkaichi Tournament but then after hearing the reward money she changed her mind.

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

4) That bloody screaming she does every so often would have made me go pretty angry as I hate when people scream.

5) Being an overprotective parent has never been a good thing as it'll never allow to know how things work outside that area they're in.

So anyway, Chichi is an okay mother, she could've been better if she weren't so annoying.

[Kamiccolo9]

I would love someone like Chi Chi as my wife and mother of my children. Put the kids first then myself. Doesn't want the kids to be in danger and scolds me when I do. She's a caring loving women. Hardly a bad wife and mother. I think she's a wonderful mom and a decent wife. The average wife doesn't have Super power kids and going by the anime. Goku and Chi Chi had a wonderful life before the Saiyans

1) Chichi didn't care about what Gohan really wanted to be when he'd grow up, he got used to it and became what she planned.

2) She doesn't put them in danger? She at first didn't seem to allow Gohan on the Tenkaichi Tournament but then after hearing the reward money she changed her mind.

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

4) That bloody screaming she does every so often would have made me go pretty angry as I hate when people scream.

5) Being an overprotective parent has never been a good thing as it'll never allow to know how things work outside that area they're in.

So anyway, Chichi is an okay mother, she could've been better if she weren't so annoying.

1. When did Gohan ever say that he didn't want to be a scholar? In fact, it's clear that he didn't want to grow up to be a fighter; otherwise he wouldn't have slacked off on his training during the 7 year gap.

2. Danger had nothing to do with that.
3. The first time she met Piccolo, he nearly killed her soon to be husband. The next time she heard about him, it was in connection with him kidnapping her son. She wasn't there when he sacrificed himself, and she never witnessed the character development he underwent. It's more than reasonable for her to dislike Piccolo. If anything, "delinquent" is too soft of a word.

4. Wah.
5. That depends on who you ask. How protective is too protective? Chi-chi wasn't saying that Gohan couldn't leave the house; she was against him going to other planets and training to fight machines that were built to murder his father, and had already killed everyone, including Gohan, in the future.

[TheGmGoken]

@dbboxkaifan
1. So? My mother influence me to study science, tech, and engineering. Now I going to major college with it. It's more exgerrated in the anime. But it seemed pretty normal to me. I'm sure Gohan didn't want to fight but he was forced due to Goku being a Saiyan. Pretty sure had Gohan said I want to be a space explorer she would made him study space.

2. She didn't allow him cause of school. She knows nobody can hurt him to the Budokai. It's reasonable. I would done the same. School over some Fighting tournament. Once money involved they could buy more things like a better house or better school supplies.



3. That's common with the regular human world. Someone looks strange you don't want your kids to be near him. It's somewhat wrong but it's protection. My sister was friends with a girl who dressed thuggish. My Umma told her to not hang with her. Next month. The girl went to jail. She protected my sister

4. Irrelevant? You must hate Gohan turning SSJ2 in the anime. You must also hate Bulma before Z.


5. That's actually not true.

Seems like you got a problem with the character not the motherhood. I find Gohan Annyoing. Was he a bad brother? She's a good mom and like most parents did better with the second child and turnt into a wonderful mom. Who are we to judge mothers? MOST of us aren't parents yet and just bashing the character rather than the parent hood. Mostly also you plan to raise your kids differently than Chi Chi. So you disagree with her choices. We want to raise our kids differently.

[SuicidalZerg]

2. She didn't allow him cause of school. She knows nobody can hurt him to the Budokai. It's reasonable. I would done the same. School over some Fighting tournament. Once money involved they could buy more things like a better house or better school supplies.

And even more, as I recall, that little bit was a change for the English dub. In the original Japanese, Gohan asks to join, and immediately mentions the prize money... and in an odd reversal, it's Gohan who's worried about school, not Chi-Chi.

[ABED]

The fact that Gohan didn't fight it doesn't mean Gohan necessarily chose his field of interest. He certainly didn't choose to be so sheltered, that was definitely Chichi's doing.

1. So? My mother influence me to study science, tech, and engineering. Now I going to major college with it. It's more exgerrated in the anime. But it seemed pretty normal to me. I'm sure Gohan didn't want to fight but he was forced due to Goku being a Saiyan. Pretty sure had Gohan said I want to be a space explorer she would made him study space.

There's a big difference between supporting a child's interests and outright pushing them.

Who are we to judge mothers?

Human beings who have had mothers.

[TheGmGoken]

2. She didn't allow him cause of school. She knows nobody can hurt him to the Budokai. It's reasonable. I would done the same. School over some Fighting tournament. Once money involved they could buy more things like a better house or better school supplies.

I was going by the Korean dub but OK. Haven't watched the Japanese version of the scene.
And even more, as I recall, that little bit was a change for the English dub. In the original Japanese, Gohan asks to join, and immediately mentions the prize money... and in an odd reversal, it's Gohan who's worried about school, not Chi-Chi.

There's a big difference between supporting a child's interests and outright pushing them.

Gohan didn't have a problem. Even after adventuring out. I'm sure he liked it. As said Chi Chi did better with second Child. Like most parents do.

Human beings who have had mothers.

Our mothers are different. My mom different from your mom.

[ABED]

Gohan didn't have a problem. Even after adventuring out. I'm sure he liked it. As said Chi Chi did better with second Child. Like most parents do.

The fact that a child doesn't protest or turns out alright doesn't mean it's okay for her to do it, plus Toriyama isn't the kind of writer to do a big psychologically deep story with realistic consequences.

Our mothers are different. My mom different from your mom.

And? So because people are different that doesn't mean we can't make judgments? This is something that's bugged me for years, the idea that judgment is negative and we should abstain from it. It's not, it's a necessary part of being human. Can people make snap judgments? Yes. Can they be wrong? Sure. But if you don't want to be a sucker and have a happy life you need to make rational judgments. A parent choosing their child's profession for them is not good parenting. It's not their life. Their job is to help the child live a happy life. As you wrote, she did better with Goten, which implies she did something wrong with Gohan.

[TheGmGoken]

The fact that a child doesn't protest or turns out alright doesn't mean it's okay for her to do it, plus Toriyama isn't the kind of writer to do a big psychologically deep story with realistic consequences

So is Kamina dad a bad father for taking his son to the surface where there's beastman and death? It's fine what she did. Her son turn out great.

And? So because people are different that doesn't mean we can't make judgments? This is something that's bugged me for years, the idea that judgment is negative and we should abstain from it. It's not, it's a necessary part of being human. Can people make snap judgments? Yes. Can they be wrong? Sure. But if you don't want to be a sucker and have a happy life you need to make rational judgments. A parent choosing their child's profession for them is not good parenting. It's not their life. Their job is to help the child live a happy life. As you wrote, she did better with Goten, which implies she did something wrong with Gohan

Never said you can't make judgments. Just not saying it's not reliable since most of us have no kids to relate and you're basically going by your own Umma who of course you're going to look up too. So you use her as a source. Hope you know Gohan was happy with being a scholar. Hope you know there are areas that still choses the job best fit for you. When I said she did better with Goten doesn't mean she did something wrong with Gohan. She just did better with Goten. Its a learning experience. Hell I'm sure I'm going make mistakes with my first kid. It happens. Children Chi a great parent.

[mAcChaos]

You guys know parents steering their child to the occupation they think is best is normal, right? I don't know why people act like she should treat Gohan like an adult when he's 5.

[RandomGuy96]

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

Backwards mentality? He's the fucking devil!

[dbboxkaifan]

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

Backwards mentality? He's the fucking devil!

They generalise it once they see more people like him and assume every green being to being Piccolo. That's highly racist of them to do.

You remember Son when he first saw God he thought that was Piccolo do you not?

[MediaFanGirl93]

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

Backwards mentality? He's the fucking devil!

Not to mention Piccolo kidnapped her son, almost killed Goku and then eventually killed him. It's not a bad reason to not like the guy.

[dbboxkaifan]

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

Backwards mentality? He's the fucking devil!

Not to mention Piccolo kidnapped her son, almost killed Goku and then eventually killed him. It's not a bad reason to not like the guy.

Again, if only he was one but nope, there were more of them and they're named "Piccolos".

It's no different if Piccolo was a Mexican or Black and then they'd hate all of them.

[RandomGuy96]

They generalise it once they see more people like him and assume every green being to being Piccolo. That's highly racist of them to do.

You remember Son when he first saw God he thought that was Piccolo do you not?

What the heck does that have to do with Chi Chi not liking the fucking devil?

Not exactly unjustified, considering:

A. Goku is... Goku, and also pretty young.

B. Kami resembles Piccolo Daimao, except much shorter. I doubt he'd have gotten Mori confused for Daimao.

C. Goku didn't know there was an entire race of Piccolos at this point.

3) Backwards mentality that thinks different looking beings are delinquents (Piccolo).

Backwards mentality? He's the fucking devil!

Not to mention Piccolo kidnapped her son, almost killed Goku and then eventually killed him. It's not a bad reason to not like the guy.

Also, that.