Ash Molestation Theory is a fan-theory that supposedly explain's Ash's strange behaviour, based upon the premise that he was groomed an/or molested by an (or possibly more) older female

i) Peter Pan syndrome - like many male survivors of sexual abuse, Ash displays a permanent juvenile state and no evidence of ageing

ii) Mother distance - despite being canonically 10 years old, Ash has little regard towards his mother who he sees infrequently, a common symptom of woman on boy sexual violence

iii) superficial relations with same-aged girls - another common sign of molestation by a woman, Ash has frequent but superficial relations with many female companions. Misty, Dawn, May, all came and went. Ash demonstrates an inability to form a lasting bond with girls his own age

iv) animal anthropomorphisation - grooming/molestation survivors often form deep and long-lasting bonds with animals, as demonstrated in Ash's relationship with Pikachu