How Winona's Pokémon Story Mirrors Women's Struggles & Progress (RSE)
In honor of Women's History Month, we’re diving into the influential roles women have played in the core Pokémon games. From strong Pokemon Trainers to Gym Leaders and Elite Four members, women have helped shape the Pokémon world we know today. Join us as we explore how these female characters were not only shaped by the times they were introduced but also reflected the roles, challenges, and triumphs of women in the real world. We fly toward Fortree City to meet the Gym Leader. It's time for Winona, "The bird user taking flight into the world."
Winona, the Flying-type Gym Leader of Fortree City, design, dialogue, and Pokémon choices align her with the image of a graceful leader who embodies both strength and refinement. Her team composition and battle style offer a deeper cultural significance, as women was experiencing shifts in gender roles where they were balancing traditional values with increasing independence and career aspirations.
Winona’s Flying-type specialty embodies freedom and ambition, qualities that women were increasingly embracing in their careers and personal lives. Yet, the pressure to maintain an image of perfection remained strong, much like Winona’s pursuit of mastery in battle. Each member of her team symbolizes different aspects of femininity, strength, and the challenges women faced during that era pursuing freedom.
Winona's Swellow
Swellow reinforces precision, adaptability, and seeking better opportunities, themes that resonate with women navigating changing societal roles. The idea that Swellow never misses its target suggests women’s perseverance in overcoming obstacles, particularly in male-dominated fields where they had to prove themselves repeatedly. The mention of seeking lands with a warm climate symbolize how women sought out spaces, whether in careers, education, or social groups, where they felt supported and could thrive. For Winona, a Gym Leader who embraces the freedom of flight, Swellow represents breaking barriers and striving for self-determined success, much like how women sought to redefine their roles while still moving forward with precision and grace.
Winona’s Swellow represents the elegance, precision, and resilience of women. The Flying-type itself symbolizes freedom, ambition, and adaptability, reflecting how women sought to break past societal limitations while still navigating cultural expectations.
Quick Attack & Aerial Ace signify efficiency and excellence, two qualities that were (and still are) highly valued for women, especially in professional and academic settings. Aerial Ace never misses, symbolizing how women were expected to perform flawlessly, whether in their careers or in domestic life. Quick Attack’s speed highlights the expectation that women must multitask effectively, responding swiftly to both personal and professional responsibilities.
Double Team, which raises evasiveness, reflects the subtle ways women had to navigate societal constraints. Instead of direct confrontation, many women had to maneuver carefully, adjusting their actions based on their environment to maintain their social standing while still advancing their own ambitions.
Endeavor causes the target's HP to equal the user's current HP. It will deduct the difference from the target's HP, symbolizing how women often had to persist and fight harder the more they were disadvantaged. Whether facing workplace discrimination, societal expectations, or limited leadership opportunities, many women had to continue pushing forward even when they were at a disadvantage.
Swellow, with its graceful flight and relentless determination, mirrors the duality of women’s experiences—balancing societal expectations of beauty and composure with the internal drive for independence and achievement. Winona’s use of this Pokémon suggests an acknowledgment of women’s ability to thrive under pressure, persist against adversity, and skillfully navigate the expectations placed upon them. Swellow symbolizes the expectation for women to be efficient, adaptable, and always in control. Never faltering, even under pressure.
Winona's Pelipper
Winona’s use of Pelipper highlights themes of nurturing, responsibility, adaptability, and protection, which have historically been central to the roles of women. Pelipper’s dual role as both a provider and protector reflects how women were expected to care for family while also managing external responsibilities. The Pokémon’s graceful flight over water also symbolizes women’s ability to navigate social expectations fluidly, adjusting to the demands of both tradition and modernity.
Pelipper’s dual nature as both a predator and a caretaker is emphasized in the Pokedex, which parallels women’s evolving roles. On one hand, the act of protecting eggs in its beak reinforces the traditional image of women as nurturers, ensuring the safety and development of future generations.
On the other hand, its ability to hunt prey efficiently suggests an assertive, independent side. This reflects the shifting landscape where women were increasingly encouraged to pursue education, careers, and leadership roles while still maintaining family responsibilities. Winona’s use of Pelipper, therefore, symbolizes a woman’s ability to balance both strength and nurturing instincts in a changing world.
Pelipper is a representation of women’s strength in transition. Pelipper, with its dual role as a protector and a provider, mirrors the complex expectations placed upon women. Women were expected to maintain traditional caregiving roles while also stepping into modern, independent identities. Winona’s use of Pelipper highlights themes of nurturing, responsibility, adaptability, and protection, which have historically been central to the roles of women. The Pokémon’s graceful flight over water also symbolizes women’s ability to navigate social expectations fluidly, similar to Misty, adjusting to the demands of both tradition and modernity.
Winona’s Pelipper represents the balance between traditional caregiving roles and the growing independence of women. As a Water/Flying-type, Pelipper is both graceful and resilient, mirroring the expectations placed on women to navigate social norms while demonstrating strength and adaptability. Each of Pelipper’s moves reflects a different aspect of how women were perceived and how they navigated societal challenges.
Water Gun symbolize the indirect yet persistent ways women asserted influence. Water, though gentle, is essential and enduring, just as women played crucial yet often unrecognized roles in families, workplaces, and social structures. Instead of forcefully challenging norms, many women made gradual, small changes over time, much like how a steady stream of water can erode even the toughest stone. In the workplace, for example, women often faced barriers to promotion, yet they continued to excel within their roles, proving their competence over time rather than openly demanding change. Rather than using direct confrontation, women often influenced societal shifts subtly through perseverance, consistency, and adaptability.
Supersonic, which confuses opponents, reflect how women had to use diplomacy, subtle persuasion, and indirect communication to navigate rigid social structures. As a society, we value harmony, discouraging open conflict, especially for women. Instead of direct resistance, women often used tactful speech, careful social maneuvering, and implied messaging to get what they needed. In professional settings, women might have had to frame their ideas in a way that seemed like a natural extension of existing norms, rather than an outright challenge. Much like how Supersonic disorients an opponent rather than directly attacking, women often had to work within the system, rather than against it, to achieve their goals.
Additionally, Supersonic disrupts the opponent without dealing direct damage, which parallels how women often had to use persuasion, social intelligence, and careful wording to effect change within rigid societal structures.
Protect is a move that shields Pelipper from attacks, symbolizing how women had to guard themselves from social scrutiny and expectations. Whether in the workplace, at home, or in public, women were expected to maintain a polished image and avoid direct conflict, much like how Protect prevents direct damage. At the same time, Protect doesn’t last indefinitely, reflecting how women could only shield themselves from societal pressures for so long before needing to engage with them directly. This move highlights the delicate balance of maintaining personal boundaries while still fulfilling traditional roles.
Aerial Ace is a move that never misses, symbolizing how women were expected to perform flawlessly in whatever roles they took on. Whether managing a household, excelling in a professional career, or upholding cultural expectations, there was little room for error. Aerial Ace, a move that never misses, represents the immense pressure on women to meet societal expectations with precision and excellence. Whether as mothers, wives, employees, or community members, women were expected to excel flawlessly while maintaining a composed and graceful demeanor. Even as women pursued education and careers, there was often an unspoken expectation that they must "do it all" without faltering—succeeding professionally while also fulfilling traditional roles at home. This meant that women had little room for visible failure. Aerial Ace reflects how women approached society by striving for perfection in every role, knowing that a single misstep could lead to criticism or diminished opportunities.
Pelipper, with its dual role as a protector and a provider, mirrors the complex expectations placed upon women. Women were expected to maintain traditional caregiving roles while also stepping into modern, independent identities. Winona’s use of Pelipper suggests grace under pressure, making it a powerful representation of women navigating both personal and societal expectations.
Winona's Skarmory
Like Skarmory, women had to navigate a world where their strength was often overlooked but essential to survival by moving forward while remaining prepared to defend their place in society. Skarmory represents how women were often forced to endure hardship but were also required to "recover" and present themselves as unwaveringly capable, no matter the challenges faced.
Winona’s Skarmory symbolizes the duality of strength and modern expectations placed upon women. As a Steel/Flying type Pokémon, Skarmory embodies both grace and resilience, reflecting the way women were expected to balance elegance and endurance in their roles. Skarmory’s moveset parallels the different ways women navigated society, whether through adaptability, perseverance, quiet defense, or precise execution of responsibilities.
Skarmory's feathers being repurposed as weapons parallels how women’s efforts have historically contributed to the strength of society, even if their contributions were not always recognized. Similar to what we saw with Roxanne and her Rock-type Pokemon. The symbolism of Skarmory's wings being "used by others" reflect how women's labor and sacrifices were often taken for granted, whether in family structures or the workplace. Despite this, Skarmory itself remains a strong, independent figure, reflecting the idea that women have been integral to societal success while maintaining their own strength and dignity. It also reflects the notion that women have historically been both the foundation and the unseen force behind progress, much like Skarmory’s discarded feathers becoming tools for others to use.
Skarmory's Sand Attack lowers the opponent’s accuracy, making them less likely to make contact when attacking. This move represents how women often had to use subtle resistance or maneuver strategically within societal expectations rather than confronting them head-on. Open defiance is often discouraged or frown upon in many cultures. Many woman instead influenced situations subtly, much like Sand Attack’s ability to create obstacles without direct aggression. Rather than outright opposition, women historically worked within societal boundaries to shape outcomes in their favor—making changes less noticeable but equally effective.
Fury Attack strikes multiple times in succession, representing perseverance and persistence. women have long had to prove themselves through continuous effort—whether in the workplace, education, or domestic life. Instead of one grand act of defiance, many women slowly built credibility and influence over time, much like how Fury Attack gradually wears down its opponent. This move reflects the idea that change in women’s roles didn’t come suddenly but rather through decades of persistence, incremental progress, and continuous small victories. Fury Attack symbolizes women’s tenacity in overcoming societal barriers. not through brute force, but through determination and steady progress.
Steel Wing is a metaphor for resilience, adaptability, and the pressure to remain strong while maintaining an elegant exterior. The move represents how women were expected to endure challenges, reinforce their strength, and persist despite societal constraints. Steel Wing has a chance of raising the user's Defense stat, symbolizing the protective barriers women often had to construct in both personal and professional spaces. Women had to withstand societal pressures, whether from expectations of marriage, workplace discrimination, or family responsibilities, while maintaining a composed and graceful demeanor. The steel-coated wings represent how women were expected to be durable and unyielding, yet still function within traditional feminine ideals of refinement and beauty
Aerial Ace never misses, symbolizing how women were expected to perform flawlessly in all aspects of life. Whether balancing career ambitions, family expectations, or social norms, women had little room for error, just as Aerial Ace strikes with unfailing accuracy. Women have often faced high expectations on women to be meticulous, graceful, and highly competent in whatever roles they take on. Aerial Ace reflects the pressure to "never falter", whether in work, marriage, or personal responsibilities. For women striving for success, any failure or misstep could lead to setbacks, reinforcing the need to always "land their mark" with precision and efficiency.
Winona’s Skarmory represents the resilience, endurance, and adaptability of women. Together, these elements showcase the challenges women faced balancing tradition and modernity, endurance and elegance, quiet resistance and undeniable skill. Just like Skarmory itself, a steel-plated bird soaring high despite its heavy armor.
Winona's Altaria
Altaria represents the growing independence and ambition of women. As a Dragon-type, Altaria stands out as a rare and prestigious Pokémon, symbolizing women who broke societal expectations and achieved prominence. Altaria represents the empowered woman: graceful, ambitious, and unafraid to assert herself while still maintaining a composed and elegant exterior.
Winona’s Altaria represents the delicate balance between grace, idealized femininity, and hidden strength, which reflects how women were expected to embody beauty and elegance while also enduring societal pressures. Altaria’s cloud-like wings and beautiful voice symbolize an idealized, almost dreamlike femininity, but its ability to launch fireballs hints at a hidden inner power that contradicts its seemingly gentle exterior.
Altaria's Pokedex description contrasts Altaria’s serene appearance with its hidden destructive power, which mirrors the reality of women navigating both expectations of grace and the need for inner resilience. The ability to "launch fireballs" suggests a hidden strength or suppressed frustration. Women who were expected to remain composed and graceful still have powerful emotions or ambitions that they were not encouraged to openly express. The juxtaposition of softness (cloud-like wings, soprano voice) with strength (fireballs) reflects the dual expectations placed on women: to be gentle and nurturing, yet capable and enduring in times of hardship. It challenges the notion of femininity as purely delicate, showing that grace and strength can coexist, much like how women often had to balance societal expectations with their own ambitions and endurance. By using Altaria, Winona embodies the struggle of women balancing societal ideals of beauty and composure with the reality of perseverance and hidden strength.
Earthquake is a devastating move, often associated with raw, untamed power. In the context of women, this move represents the hidden strength and resilience beneath an expected exterior of grace and submission. Just as Altaria’s appearance does not immediately suggest it would wield Earthquake, women were often underestimated, even though they played critical roles in both family and society.
DragonBreath, with its ability to paralyze, symbolizes the idea of having a voice that carries unexpected strength. This move represents how women, despite societal constraints, still assert themselves through subtle yet impactful means, whether through persuasion, influence within the family, or quiet resistance. The act of breathing out a powerful force aligns with the struggles of women who sought to challenge norms while still appearing composed and graceful. Women have often had to find ways to assert their ideas without direct confrontation. DragonBreath embodies this ability to disrupt expectations while still maintaining an elegant exterior.
Dragon Dance boosts Altaria’s attack and speed, representing preparation, adaptability, and inner refinement. Women have historically been expected to continuously refine themselves whether in terms of beauty, mannerisms, or skill sets to fit into societal roles. However, this move also represents ambition and growth, hinting at the aspirations of women who sought more than just traditional roles. The act of dancing itself is a form of controlled expression, much like how women had to navigate societal expectations while still pursuing their own goals and identity.
Aerial Ace, as with the rest of Winona's team, continues to represent women needing to be perfect. Aerial Ace continues to reflects how women were often expected to carry themselves with grace and poise, while still being highly competent and effective in their roles. The fluid, soaring nature of Aerial Ace aligns with the symbolism of women striving for independence, breaking past societal restrictions, and pursuing their own paths. For Winona, a Flying-type specialist who represents freedom and movement, Aerial Ace reinforces the idea of women finding strength within their grace and surpassing societal limitations.
Altaria’s moveset beautifully mirrors the duality of femininity by balancing societal expectations of grace with the reality of inner strength. By giving Winona an Altaria with this moveset, Pokémon subtly highlights the complex role of women. Expected to embody elegance and poise, yet equipped with the strength, intelligence, and ambition to overcome challenges, women have always navigated these expectations with resilience. Flying, a symbol of freedom and ambition, represents the struggle to break free from societal constraints. Just as Flying Pokémon must balance power and precision to soar, women have had to navigate societal pressures while pursuing personal and professional growth.
Winona embodies the woman striving for excellence while managing these societal expectations. She represents the delicate balance between tradition and ambition, similar to Erika in Pokemon RBY, much like women who maintained grace while proving their capabilities. Her role echoes the evolving identity of women transitioning from rigid expectations to a more independent and assertive self.
Through Winona’s Pokémon, we see the diverse facets of femininity, strength, and perseverance in a society where women were beginning to soar. Just like the Flying-type Pokémon she commands.
Questions:
1) What do you like most about Winona as a Gym Leader?
2) What about the Flying-type resonates with women's desire for freedom?
3) What is your favorite Flying-type Pokemon?
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