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Like many fans of Yu Yu Hakusho, I have a tendency to believe that Hiei has some misogynistic, or woman-hating, qualities about him. Perhaps this doesn't equate to full hatred of females, or perhaps it only applies to the ice apparitions who birthed him. In any case, I have recently been wondering--is this belief based on conjecture and hypothesizing, actual canonical evidence, or just a whim, similar to the "sweet snow" rumors about Hiei?

It's easy to see why one could say that Hiei dislikes women. He was born into a society of cold, frozen demons who, because he was male, threw him off a cliff and treated him like trash. This would create a sort of dislike for women, at the very least those women, in pretty much any person. But is that enough to say, with confidence, that Hiei dislikes all women?

And honestly, how much canonical evidence is there to support this claim? It's true that Hiei hates the ice apparitions, as seen in his ruthless search for them and his would-be murder of the species. (Then again, perhaps the fact that he didn't kill them shows that he doesn't hate women after all.) And this is to be expected. But does that hatred translate over to other women?

Hiei doesn't hate Yukina, that's for sure. Of course, that's also to be expected, because though she is a woman, she's his sister. It's possible that he makes an exception for her and her only.

If it's true that there is canonical evidence for Hiei's dislike of women, then how strong is it? Does the emotion border on hate, or is it just a mere disrespect in the aspect that women aren't as physically dominate as men (usually)?

Another element to this predicament is, of course, Mukuro. It's canonically implied--not proven--that they have some sort of romantic relationship. Does that then imply that Mukuro changes Hiei's mind about women, or does he simply make another excuse for her as he might do with Yukina?

Perhaps part of the reason the idea that Hiei dislikes women is widespread is because it's a sort of ideal quality in that sort of character, similar to the way Kuwabara won't fight women. Hiei has an honor code and yet he can be cruel, so to some fans it could be seen as an interesting or desirable quality that he doesn't respect women as fighters, almost a kind of reverse chivalry. Also, the thought that Hiei dislikes women due to his past could be considered more comforting than the idea that Hiei is indifferent toward everyone but himself and his immediate family and closest friends. Often dislike is more poignant than indifference.

There's also the fact that it could be considered more romantic for Hiei and Mukuro to be in love if Hiei previously disliked most women, the same sort of logic of those who pair Hiei with a human.

I do not deny that there is sufficient reason to think that Hiei would have ill will toward women. But I will say that there is a lack of actual, solid canonical evidence for this claim, which is true of a lot of beliefs about Hiei and other YYH characters.

So, feel free to discuss whether Hiei's a woman-hater, the canon's evidence for or against the claims, and various other related topics. Please be sure to argue politely with me and each other. We all enjoy a rousing debate!

Hahaha! Hiei doesn't like ANYONE! XD

I think this arose because people read Hiei's background, saw a few epis with Botan and Hiei together thus decided "Alright Hiei doesn't like women."

>3>

Not true. I think because Hiei doesn't ESPECIALLY pick on the shows' females, that it's quite safe to say Hiei is NOT a misogynist. Also, I think it was quite merciful of him not to destroy the entire Koorime Village when he arrived, wouldn't you? : )

Hahaha! Woot! Debates are fun! XD

Okay, I can definitely see Hiei looking down upon women as being a weaker part of a species, however, I don't think he'd be completely prejudiced just because of how many times he's been proven wrong. Look at all our favorite females! Shizuru, Keiko, Botan, Genkai, Yukina, Mukuro, and in the manga, even ATSUKO! All of them have all disproved any prejudiced he perhaps held in the past. Yes, I COULD see Hiei being a misogynist at the beginning. Seeing just the snide, somewhat sexist comments he made towards Botan and Keiko during the Shadow Sword fight, HOWEVER, I don't think he is in any form at all by the end of the Dark Tourney, and ESPECIALLY after Mukuro. : )

As for the Koorime, I think you misinterpreted what I was saying. I was not implying that he spared the village because it was full of women. I was saying if he held a hatred for women, he probably would've destroyed the entire village while there after getting the information he needed. In fact, I wonder if he would even SEARCH for his mother if he was a misogynist! And to leave her friend alive as he left the village was a feat all on it's own to me! : D

Haha. True true. However, does him NOT viewing them as strong make him HATE them?

And I've also read a very good fan fic in which Hiei...eh...let me direct you some where. Lol, it's easier to see if you just READ it. Candles. You don't need to read the first two parts, just scroll down to the third to see my point, however it is a very good fan fic, lol, so if you'd like to read the rest go ahead. : D



Perhaps, and it is true that he didn't see her gender beforehand. HOWEVER, I just think that if he WERE a Misogynist, there would be more obvious signs. More thoughts spoken aloud and more things, especially with such a big transformation of making an exception for her.



That's actually what I AM saying. Okay, let me attempt to walk you through this with my terrible explanation skills. Lol

Hiei's hatred for women began with the koorime, yes?

If Hiei truly hated them, would he go out looking for them then NOT destroy them. Really? Does that seem AT ALL characteristic to you? Him NOT going in for the kill. Him NOT taking revenge.

You know, you COULD argue with the line "they are already dead." (Which by the way, I LOVED that line too. Oh my gosh I was sitting in my chair laughing for a good five minutes just because it was such a HIEI thing to say) but if he truly harbored THAT much hatred for them and that much prejudiced after growing up in a band of killing thieves, and remember, this was before Yusuke. Before everything. Before the Hiei WE REALLY KNOW. Where what mattered was killing. Winning. Nothing else...

Would he REALLY just let them live if he loathed them to the very depths of his soul? Would he REALLY just walk away?

I think him walking away with they "they are already dead" line, was a sign of somewhat pity. He was above the koorime.

Now, I think that it's very safe to say that he didn't like the koorime, in the least. But if he was REALLY a misogynist, I don't think he even would have SEARCHED for his mother after what the koorime did to him. I don't think he would have searched for Yukina either. I think he would have just given up hope just like that. Just said "It's a woman? No. Screw it." But he DIDN'T.

He DIDN'T. I think that's my entire point here. If he was a misogynist he would've done this and this and this but he DIDN'T. Lol XD

Alright alright. I'm starting to see a point. However, I'd just like to add that MANY males and even society TODAY looks down upon women as the weaker part of the species. Sure there are feminists and such, but there's always going to be that stereotype of the caged, worthless housewife that'll hold them down.

Sure, I think Hiei has a small dislike to woman, but I don't think it so much as prejudices him against them or anything in that manner. It's just that he's seen so many examples that prove him wrong that he's accepted the I really don't think he can categorize as a misogynist anymore. In general, Hiei just doesn't like weakness, and even beyond that, he looks down on everyone. He doesn't have a COMPLETE god-complex, but it's pretty darn close to one, you know?

I don't think it's really a dislike for women that's the problem, you know? : )

(Glad you liked the fic. It's on my favorites. I love his reaction at the end. ^^)