Back الفتاة في خطر (أسلوب قصصي) Arabic Dimezell en enkrez Breton Donzella en perill Catalan Verfolgte Unschuld German Savendulino Esperanto Damisela en apuros Spanish Damatxo arriskuan Basque دوشیزه درمانده Persian Neito pulassa Finnish Demoiselle en détresse French
The damsel in distress is a narrative device in which one or more men must rescue a woman who has been kidnapped or placed in other peril. The "damsel" is often portrayed as beautiful, popular and of high social status; they are usually depicted as princesses in works with fantasy or fairy tale settings. Kinship, love, lust or a combination of those motivate the male protagonist to initiate the narrative.[1]
Critics have linked the helplessness of these women to societal views that women as a group need to be taken care of by men and treated nicely.[1] Throughout the history of the trope, the role of the woman as the victim in need of a male savior has remained constant, but her attackers have changed to suit the tastes and collective fears of the period: "monsters, mad scientists, Nazis, hippies, bikers, aliens..."[2]
- ^ a b Sarkeesian, Anita (March 7, 2013). "Damsel in Distress (Part 1) Tropes vs Women". Feminist Frequency. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ Lowbrow, Yeoman (December 28, 2014). "When Natives Attack! White Damsels and Jungle Savages in Pulp Fiction". Flashbak. Alum Media. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2021.