>>32747435In all fairness, it's very much possible that Dawn was supposed to represent not only a feminine side to being into Pokemon, MORESO than Misty and May but also to identify with Japanese girls' values and sensibilities. As far as Ash's partners thus far, she fits the bill -- darker hair, feminine qualities but reasonably assertive and independent in her own quirky way and flawed to a point but not willing to put up with others' bullshit.
She's not necessarily a love interest for Ash, more like an equal in a way. Ash learns a bit about contests from her and Dawn learns a lot about battles through him. It's so easy to write her off as a girly May clone because she fills a similar gap but she's actually handled like her own character in subtle but respectable ways.
