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With changing times and values, popular media also evolves. What is permissible or enjoyable today could bear the brunt of cancel culture’s wrath tomorrow. Only timeless classics are safe from that, or maybe not, as the situation withMaid Samaproves.Maid SamaorKaichou wa Maid Samais a classic shojo romance anime that is highly regarded by most long-time shojo fans.
At one time, the characters Misaki and Usui were all the rage. However, the charm of the holy grail of romance has since faded as fans (rightfully) call the anime out for its sexist narration. IsMaid Samasexist? Yes. Does it deserve the endless hate? Absolutely not, and there are many reasons why that is the case.
Kaichou wa Maid Samais Sexist, but…
To start off, we need to delve into some of the problematic plotlines in the anime.In the beginning, Misaki is really disrespectful toward men and uses her authority to boss them around. She gradually becomes more understanding and less hostile towards them because of Usui, so this plotline gets somewhat resolved fairly early on.
Usui, on the other hand, is hated by many fans for his sexist remarks. He sometimes reminds Misaki of how she’s a girl and should be more cautious of that fact. Or how she should dress modestly given her appeal. He acts possessive towards her and often gets in close proximity without her consent. For all these reasons, he gets called out for being problematic and possessive to a toxic degree.
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While there’s no justification for Usui’s behavior, there are many layers to this discourse. Usui and Misaki’s dynamics are heartwarming. Usui is among the few people who acknowledged Misaki for who she really was; her strength and stubbornness combined with her flaws. Misaki was independent to a fault; she would never share her burden or responsibilities with anyone and often overworked herself. Usui helped her loosen up in that respect.
While the anime doesn’t adapt the later chapters of the manga, we see Usui opening up as well. His weaknesses are explored and he relies on Misaki in return. Usui does behave inappropriately at times, but he deeply respects and cherishes Misaki. While not to justify his inappropriate behavior, his way of teasing Misaki and getting on her nerves challenges Misaki in a way nothing else does. With that, these two are a power couple.
Maid SamaDeserves Better than the Endless Hate
Maid Samadeserves better than the hate it gets because it came out years ago, but gets judged according to today’s standards. The manga was first published in 2005, and the anime was released in 2010. Moreover, Japanese society is known for its complex and regressive social norms. At that time,Maid Samawas an incredible and fresh concept that had a capable female character at its center.
Misaki was strong and confident in her abilities. She never let people push her around or take advantage of her. Every time she found herself in a pinch, she was able to fend for herself. In the beginning, Usui would attempt to defend her, but he realized that Misaki didn’t need that. So. instead. he helped her in battling her own inhibitions and provided a safe space for her, where she could let out her not-so-perfect self.
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So in a way,Maid Samamakes many sexist remarks, but it also deconstructs problematic shojo tropes. Could it have happened without Usui being inappropriate? Surely. ButMaid Samadid extremely well as ashojo anime-manga seriesat the time when it came out. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call it revolutionary given the context. Yes, it may deserve criticism for not doing better, but let’s not forget the pat on the back either.
Maid Sama! is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Laveena Joshi
Anime Writer
Articles Published :925
Laveena is an anime content writer at FandomWire. Having written more than 800 articles, she’s an expert in mainstream shonen series, ranging from the bizarre world of JoJo’s to the expansive worldbuilding of One Piece.With her formal education in Journalism and Mass Communication, she explores entertainment journalism through the lens of anime and manga, from mainstream and classic titles to niche and obscure ones.
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