The problem with invoking the real world is that this is a fantasy that he controls entirely. If he omitted rape entirely, it wouldn't make the series more or less realistic than it already was from the beginning.
You can tell that obviously, the abusers are intended to be the very worst people. But Oda isn't calling anyone out... none of the abusers are held accountable. We don't even know who did that to Ginney.
And as for gags, the "panties" gag is not a good look for a protagonist in the context of what happens. Brook is a creep, but it's okay because he doesn't touch them lol. Okay Japan
The bad guys are human traffickers, omitting the rape is just downplaying the reality of slavery. Oda is showing slavery causes rape.
"None of the abusers are held accountable."
Incorrect, the Straw Hat Pirates, Vegapunks, and Kuma's efforts to save Bonney resulted in both her freedom and the direct death of one of her greatest abusers, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.
I'm certain the rest of the abusers will get punched. Charlos was the first, and now Luffy is punching the King of them in the face.
Yeah, the Straw Hats are pirates, they're criminals, not perfect people. They have flaws. Not excusing Brook, I would tell him off if I saw him asking a woman to flash him.
But, is it funny to watch from a distance? Yeah. I have enough bullshit in my life to get morally outraged over a walking skeleton wanting to look at women's underwear.
Ya'll can keep your outrage like a Dragonite against Mega Floette
There are REAL issues in this series like Oda going "I'm learning to draw ass for this arc" and then drawing Bonney's behind in compromising positions before revealing she's 12, and women characters getting shafted in general.
But Brook's panty gag is NOT the problem here, in a series where the main character has helped freed a gaggle of notorious villains from the worst prison in the world, and the most protected character on the crew is an archeologist who helped cause a civil war, coup de ta, and drought in a foreign country to find the Rio Poneglyph.
Luffy and Robin have at least indirectly caused the murders of THOUSANDS through Luffy: Releasing Impel Down Prisoner, and Robin: Alabasta.
Brook is BY FAR one of the most upstanding Straw Hats. Is he a pervert? Yes. But, he clearly comes from an era where it is NOT a crime to ask a lady is she will show him his panties, or, he would not be asking.
Still needs to stop and get punched for it when he does it, BUT, he is not a criminal.
Hit him harder Nami.
The only four TRULY INNOCENT Straw Hats are Usopp, Chopper, Vivi, and Karoo. Everyone else on the crew is a freak/monster in some way, and I love em for it (except the bad shit).
Luffy is a hero and very good natured, but, he has maintained he is a pirate and will do evil things to save his friends, like release people like Crocodile, who he KNOWS IS AN EVIL MASTERMIND CAPABLE OF DESTROYING ENTIRE COUNTRIES WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT FINDING OUT.
Brook is one of the best Straw Hats morally, BUT HE AIN'T INNOCENT, YOHOHOHOHOHO
