You Go Girl!
By painting the positive portrayal of women and girls in Pokemon, the biggest media franchise ever,
my ambition is to highlight and amplify an empowering narrative.
Statement
Popular culture has a powerful influence on how societies shape and transmit norms and stereotypes. In 1950s romance comics and films, women were often portrayed as helpless, defined by their dependence on men and confined to domestic roles. Roy Lichtenstein’s comic-inspired works captured and exposed these clichés, reflecting the gender expectations of his time.
Aware of the subliminal power of such imagery, I turned my attention to the world’s largest media franchise: Pokémon. There, I was struck by the presence of female characters who are ambitious, resilient, and complex—scientists, inspectors, and leaders—strong not through supernatural powers, but through intelligence, determination, and work ethic, while remaining feminine and confident.
Male characters still dominate many central roles—patriarchy is hard to beat—but as my son simply observed: “There aren’t many girls in Pokémon, but they are powerful.”
By painting these power girls, my aim is to amplify this positive and empowering narrative. You Go Girl.