This is a lovely essay and you definitely sum up nicely how Nami's and Robin's actions/behavior during the two arcs should be read as strength, not weakness. However, I wonder a little about how you're using "sexist" in this essay, and generally what OP reader audience you're responding to. There hasn't been too much discussion about gender or sexism over at one_piece (that I remember, in the short time since I've joined). The stuff around the AP forums, that I've seen, don't seem to complain about sexism in the story so much as using Nami's and Robin's behavior as arguments for their weakness. I do, in fact, find a lot of fans' attitudes and readings toward Nami and Robin sexist, and using the Arlong Park and Enies Lobby arcs to back up their arguments. Can you point to some places or discussions where readers have called out the story and characters in those arcs on charges of sexism?
I also have trouble getting on board with the statement "Arlong Park and Enies Lobby arcs are not sexist", because One Piece, while better than most shonen manga, contains many sexist elements as a whole, and the AP and EL arcs must be considered within the context of that sexism. I know you're responding to specific aspects of sexism, but unfortunately sexism (both in general and in OP) is not confined to characterizations of weak/strong and roles of rescuer/victim.
Like I said, as a defense of Nami and Robin, this essay is wonderful, and it's always awesome to see positive things written about them on the 'Net, since they're generally so underappreciated. I would just suggest thinking through the use of the word "sexism" a little more, as it comes from many sources both in the story and in the fandom, and is carried out in many ways.
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I also have trouble getting on board with the statement "Arlong Park and Enies Lobby arcs are not sexist", because One Piece, while better than most shonen manga, contains many sexist elements as a whole, and the AP and EL arcs must be considered within the context of that sexism. I know you're responding to specific aspects of sexism, but unfortunately sexism (both in general and in OP) is not confined to characterizations of weak/strong and roles of rescuer/victim.
Like I said, as a defense of Nami and Robin, this essay is wonderful, and it's always awesome to see positive things written about them on the 'Net, since they're generally so underappreciated. I would just suggest thinking through the use of the word "sexism" a little more, as it comes from many sources both in the story and in the fandom, and is carried out in many ways.