How the Damsel in Distress Trope is Ruining Disney Princesses

Introduction

Everyone knows that Disney Princesses are the epitome of we as children view as pretty and that they have created sort of standard of what is considered beautiful. We always have had an idealized version of the Disney Princess, for example Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. They were all portrayed as Damsels in Distress and us as young girls believed them to be the idealized version of femininity and beauty. But how has that portrayal and ideal impacted young girls? Was it for the better or worse?

To better understand why this might be a negative portrayal in today’s age, I’ll explain what this convention is. The Damsel in Distress convention is a trope used in fairytales and other sources of literature, where the woman is in a dangerous situation or in some sort of trouble and is ultimately saved by a man. In this convention the woman is often painted to be a submissive and weak person, and always needs the help of a man. In today's society, this convention is viewed as a harmful portrayal of women, as we are strong and powerful in our own way, and are able to save ourselves. 

The behavior they all displayed was deemed as ideal by the majority which made me think that this was the expectation of how I needed to act, which I did. I began to act like her by always trying to please others and acting in a more submissive way to not anger others. This led to people walking all over me and me not being able to stand up for myself and demand my wants from others. This change in behavior is something that stuck with me as I grew older, as though I confused pleasing everyone as being kind, when in reality it was harming towards me. 

I also had aspired to look like Cinderella, or any of the Disney princesses, as they were known as beautiful and perfect. All of the Princesses were illustrated as skinny, with fair skin, and perfect face features. I did not look like any of the Disney princesses which growing up made me think I was ugly, which lowered my self-esteem and made me hate myself. I kept thinking that there was something wrong with me because I did not look like any of them, and they were viewed as what beauty is. My self-esteem is something that I still struggle with to this day, because of the standards I viewed growing up, but I have worked on thinking more positive about myself to work on this issue. 

As I grew older, I learned from other role models that we are all different and are beautiful in our ways. That just because you are different from what is ideal doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. I also learned that women are strong in their own ways and are capable of so many things, we do not need to be rescued by some Prince, we are to stand up and fight for ourselves. Although I still struggle with these issues at times, learning this message is what helped me grow into a stronger person and the person who is able to stand up for themselves today. 

The Harms of this Portrayal

 The Original Disney Princesses were always portrayed as what we should desire to be, but that can give unrealistic expectations. They were always portrayed in a beautiful and submissive way. Growing up seeing these types of princesses can influence the way we interact with others, as how they act is what we think is expected of us. This can negatively affect how we see ourselves, as if we are any different from how they were portrayed then we must not be ideal.

Some of the reasons why this convention is harmful is:

1. They portray women as weak and inferior to men: Young girls grow up thinking that men are superior to women, as we are portrayed constantly getting help from them and viewed as weaker than them. They will think that they are not capable of the same things as men, and that they will always need to acquire the help of a man. 

Why The Trope Of Damsel In Distress Harms The Cause Of Women Empowerment | Her Circle  

2. They set up expectations for what Beauty is and femininity: Young girls will grow up thinking that if they look any different from how Disney Princesses look, then they are not pretty. They will view themselves as not up to the expectations of what it means to be beautiful, as they look different from the expectation/ideal, as these Princesses influence us to think that our looks our worth. Young girls will also grow up thinking that the way these princesses act is how a woman should act and that this is what a woman should be. They will think that this is the ideal way of femininity, and will be influenced to act this way, if not they will not be feminine enough. 

Why Disney Princesses are Bad Role Models for Young Girls (theodysseyonline.com) 

3. They influence us to act in a more submissive way or “Act like a Princess”: Young girls will be influenced to act more submissive and act in a way to please others. They will think that it's best to wait for others to help and "rescue" them, instead of finding ways to help themselves. They will be influenced to not oppose others and be more compliant towards others.

Awareness

The Damsel in Distress convention has been used in many pieces of literature and in many films but is most known in the portrayal of Disney Princesses. The Disney films have made this trope widely known which has made it easier for people to be influenced by its depiction. Even in the newer Disney movies like Tangled, the princess is portrayed as a damsel in distress, but even in minor characters there is still that portrayal of this trope which harming to many young girls. 

 The depiction of a damsel in distress in Disney Princesses can have many negative and harmful effects on young girls who are growing up and barely starting to figure out their identity. We should be portraying women in a more encouraging light, where they are depicted as strong, intelligent, and independent. We should encourage young girls to view themselves as beautiful for the way they look, and to learn to stand up for themselves when they think they have the right to do so. We should not be encouraging girls to act in a way that accommodates men, we should help them find their own identity. This can start with having a better depiction of what a Princess is and how they should act.

For more information click on any of the following link:

Are Disney princesses failing as role models? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)  

Why Disney Princesses are Bad Role Models for Young Girls (theodysseyonline.com) 

Why The Trope Of Damsel In Distress Harms The Cause Of Women Empowerment | Her Circle  

Body Image – The Deconstruction of Disney Princesses (middlebury.edu) 

[Ashlyn Romero] | [Writing 50] | [Imitation Project]