Once upon a time, in a land not too far from our own, fairytales spun stories of magic, daring quests, and princesses with hair strong enough to double as a ladder. 20 times fairytales didn’t do women any favors:
1. Damsels in Distress
The go-to plot device: a woman in trouble waiting for a man to save her, because apparently, locksmithing is a male-only skill.
2. The Prince Charming Complex
The idea that a woman’s problems can be solved by finding the right man, preferably one with a castle.
3. Beauty as Currency
A woman’s value often lies in her beauty, not her brains, bravery, or baking skills (unless she’s baking a poison apple).
4. Evil Older Women
The villain is often an older woman, suggesting that aging is both wicked and unattractive.
5. The Passive Princess
Many princesses seem to have no ambitions beyond singing with wildlife and waiting for their true love.
6. Love at First Sight
The notion that you can (and should) fall in love with someone based on looks alone undermines the importance of personal connection and compatibility.
7. Happily Ever After Through Marriage
The ultimate goal? Marriage. Because a fairytale can’t possibly end with a woman finding fulfillment in her career or hobbies.
8. Sacrificing for Love
Women often change or give up their dreams for love, while men’s lives remain remarkably unchanged post-nuptials.
9. The Makeover Solution
Transformations that make the heroine more traditionally feminine and attractive to ensure her happy ending.
10. The Silent Siren
Women with voices that enchant but are often silenced, literally or metaphorically, to fit into societal norms.
11. Rescue as Romance
The idea that saving a woman in danger is not just heroic, but a viable foundation for a romantic relationship.
12. The Jealous Female
Women pitted against each other over looks or a man’s attention, because clearly, there’s nothing else to life.
13. Women’s Work as Trivial
Cinderellas and Snow Whites are celebrated for domestic work, subtly reinforcing traditional gender roles.
14. The Quest for Perfection
Heroines are often portrayed as paragons of virtue, setting an unrealistically high standard for real women.
15. Choicelessness
Rarely do fairytale heroines get to choose their own paths; their fates are frequently dictated by men or magic.
16. The Trophy Wife Scenario
Women are sometimes treated as prizes to be won, rather than partners to be loved and respected.
17. The Faint of Heart
A tendency to faint or need rescuing when the going gets tough, because apparently, women are as fragile as glass slippers.
18. Dependency Over Independence
Stories that celebrate dependency on a man or marriage for financial security or social status.
19. Maternal Sacrifice
Mothers in fairytales often die early or sacrifice themselves, suggesting that motherhood is a path of inevitable martyrdom.
20. The Pursuit of Purity
Women in fairytales must often remain pure and innocent to be deemed worthy of love and a happy ending.
A Modern Spell for Old Tales
While fairytales offer a window into the fantasies of yesteryear, it’s clear they also reflect dated views on women’s roles and relationships. Perhaps it’s time to rewrite these stories, giving our heroines the agency, complexity, and fabulous flats they deserve. After all, who says a princess can’t slay her own dragons?
The post 20 Times Fairytales Undermined Womens Progress first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / kiuikson.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
