The Damsel in Distress

The damsel in distress is a stereotype that has often been used in the earliest fairy tales, and can still be seen in modern popular culture. The stereotype is a female character (obviously) who finds herself in a situation that requires someone to save her. She is portrayed as helpless; unable to or reluctant to do something about the situation herself. The pursuit of the rescuing of the damsel in distress is often the event that puts the characters, and the plot, in motion.

The stereotype can easily be traced to the very first Disney princess: Snow White (film was released in 1937). This beautiful lady takes a bite from an apple and seemingly dies. But then a prince appears, and in the ban of her beauty, kisses her, and thereby rescues her from the spell.

 Of course, many of the other Disney princesses and other fairy tale characters are also part of the stereotype. Cinderella needed the prince to save her from the horrible life with her stepmother and –sisters, Sleeping Beauty also required a kiss from a handsome prince to wake her from a long nap, and Meg’s soul was luckily saved by Hercules.

The stereotype is particularly harmful when used in movies for children as they reinforce stereotypical gender roles and send little girls the wrong message: “don’t worry when you’re in trouble, some handsome stranger will come and rescue you”.

Although fairy tales are full of damsels in distress, live-action TV and film are also guilty of containing quite a few examples.

A clear example is Rose from Titanic. Jack even saves her life twice (once when she slips after he talks her out of committing suicide and at the end).

Damsels in distress are also very common in movies where male characters are to be seen as heroes:

Spiderman

Bond girls are very often damsels in distress