Note: This article reflects on changing portrayals of femininity and gender roles from a cultural and personal perspective. It is not meant to exclude or diminish the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, nor suggest that women must fit into any one mold — whether traditional or modern. Every person’s identity and path is valuable and worthy of respect.
Watching Disney animations today, have you noticed a shift in the portrayal of female lead characters? Many years ago, we had gentle and sweet Aurora, kind and tender Cinderella, and the graceful and wise Blue Fairy. Today, by contrast, we see powerful Elsa, runaway Ariel, adventure-seeking Belle and Rapunzel, brave Merida and Moana, and many other heroines who demonstrate bravery, independence, and rebellion. It’s no surprise, then, that many little girls today seem to lack manners and respect, speak bluntly, and appear self-centered. Confidence is not what they seem to be lacking — gentleness is.
Certainly, it is good that we encourage girls to become strong and able to stand up for themselves. It is also true that many women in the past were pressured by society to always be soft and sweet. That pressure was unhealthy when taken to the extreme. However, it seems society today pressures women too — but in the opposite direction. Modern women are encouraged to be “strong, confident, successful,” and “equal” to men in every way. Often, gentleness and humility are viewed as weakness. As a result, some girls feel the need to appear tough and confident all the time. They build muscles because muscular bodies are seen as fit, healthy, and strong, while natural curves, softness, and a bit of roundness are often viewed as signs of weakness or lack of discipline. Female athletes in sports like gymnastics and synchronized swimming now often focus on fast, powerful movements that showcase strength and confidence rather than tender elegance and grace.
Being a mother and a wife — roles so crucial to the survival of human society — is no longer viewed as the most important calling for women. Modern married women are strongly encouraged to work full-time. Even more, they are pressured to be as successful as men in their careers. Many mothers today inadvertently neglect their children in order to fit the picture-perfect image of a working woman. Housewives who stay home to care for their children and households are often looked down upon, seen as dependent, uneducated, or leading boring lives. Yet we seem to forget that nearly every outstanding figure in history had a mother who spent time with them in childhood and helped shape them into who they became. Countless gentle housewives — cooking, cleaning, and nurturing — have helped shape the world in ways that go unnoticed. Isn’t it ironic that while we all agree family is the foundation of society, we make women too busy to take care of their own?
This is not to say that women should go back to being followers of men, give up their careers, or force themselves to be soft and sweet all the time. Rather, it’s worth asking: have we swung too far in the opposite direction? Are girls trying to abandon their own gentleness because society praises a different kind of personality? Protecting oneself from abuse or exploitation is, of course, a woman’s right — and an essential one. But that is not the same as radical feminism that seeks to overthrow all gender distinctions. (Have we forgotten that women were created different from men, and for good reasons?)
More movies and TV shows now depict women taking revenge on men through violence (The Brave One, I Spit on Your Grave, Lady Vengeance, etc.). Some media even advocate prostitution and abortion purely in the name of women's rights. But does this really make our society better?
The final question is this: have we forgotten that gentleness, kindness, and grace are also noble traits — for women and men alike? The world would be a better place if more people embraced these qualities. Strength doesn’t have to be shown through a fearless look, harsh words, or violent actions. True strength can lie in the depth of one’s character, expressed through quiet firmness and inner determination — and it can coexist with compassion and tenderness.
Since my early years, I have witnessed such strength in the women around me — and they didn’t need to act like men to show it. Miss World 2025 and the pride of Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, is a wonderful example. She is both graceful and strong. If you watch her closely during interviews, you’ll see gentleness and sweetness shining in her eyes. When she stepped out of the car at her homecoming and kindly offered her hand to help an elderly woman beside her, she looked almost as graceful as the Blue Fairy herself. Opal doesn’t need to appear rough, tough, or overly confident. Her strength is shown in how she’s overcome life’s challenges — including her battle with cancer.
I truly hope that Disney will create more princesses with this kind of character — so that our younger generation learns that gentleness is not weakness.
Written by Me
Edited by Echo
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