Within the intriguing domain of fairy tales, characterized by an abundance of charm and enchantment, resides a narrative that demands more examination: the deliberate utilization of gender roles as a strategic tool to influence and shape societal beliefs. This interesting discussion reveals the discreet yet potent effects imposed by these enduring tales. Fairy tales widely exploit gender roles in multiple ways that could potentially influence society.

As we dive into one of these fairy tales, you can find that the tale of “Briar Rose” by the Brothers Grimm, commonly referred to as “Sleeping Beauty,” serves as a prime example of the stereotypical representation of the “passive” female protagonist and the “rescuer” male figure. This timeless literary pattern has been recurrent in several fictional stories and has significantly impacted popular culture. In “Sleeping Beauty,” the prince has made up his mind that he will save the princess no matter what. “‘That doesn’t scare me,’ said the prince. ‘I’m going to make my way through the hedge and rescue the beautiful princess’” (Grimm 164). In this ongoing tale, the passive female archetype is demonstrated by the sleeping princess, a character frequently portrayed as delicate, reliant on another person to wake her from her never-ending slumber. Conversely, the one tasked with rescuing, often portrayed as a prince or knight, plays the role of a formidable and valiant character whose motivations are rooted in the imperative to liberate the vulnerable female in a state of danger. To add on, in her article, Kay Stone claims that “Sleeping Beauty and Snow White are so passive that they have to be reawakened to life by a man” (Stone 43). This precisely captures the notion that female gender roles in fairy tales primarily revolve around the overall weakness of the girl, which is parallel to what society has believed in for centuries.

Moreover, how fairy tales underline the detrimental effects of these gender stereotypes that are placed on women is also very important. For instance, “Sun, Moon, and Talia” presents an exploration of the character Talia, who embodies passivity and beauty, and the consequences that arise from her imagined purity being compromised. “Crying aloud, he beheld her charms and felt his blood course hotly through his veins. He lifted her in his arms, and carried her to a bed, where he gathered the first fruits of love. Leaving her on the bed” (Basile). The narrative is illustrative of the dominant gender norms and societal constructs that were prevalent throughout its era. Upon being found in a state of slumber, the king surrenders to his sexual urges, using her vulnerable unconsciousness. This behavior, however, regarded as morally dubious or even condemnable, underscores the ramifications of reducing women to objects solely based on their exterior characteristics. The violation of Talia’s purity and innocence serves as a symbol of the fragility often attributed to passive, aesthetically pleasing female protagonists in mainstream storytelling.

Various instances of gender roles common in society are found within the story of “Cinderella”. In this case, it was the beauty standards that were conveyed in these tales that would likely affect us in reality. Cinderella is frequently portrayed as the embodiment of feminine beauty and class, embodying attributes that are much esteemed within her historic setting. Cinderella’s physical attributes are often regarded as an ideal example of attractiveness, and her evolution from an impoverished, dirty servant into a radiant, elegantly attired princess serves as a prominent example of the glorification of beauty. This depiction emphasizes the notion that physical attractiveness is a defining attribute that carries substantial significance, frequently eclipsing other traits such as intellectual prowess, benevolence, or fortitude:

When she entered the room, she curtsied. Then the prince handed her the golden slipper and said, ‘Try it on! If it fits, you’ll become my wife.’ So Cinderella took off the heavy shoe from her left foot and put this foot into the golden slipper, and after she pressed a bit, her foot fit as though the slipper had been made for her.

(Grimm 77)

We see here that the prince would only marry the princess if her foot had fit the shoe, implying that women with smaller feet were found much more attractive then. Additionally, the stepmother and stepsisters of Cinderella had short, black hair and a complexion that was notably darker than Cinderella’s (The Peculiarities And Effects Of Gender Roles). These things failed to meet prevailing beauty standards(for instance, Marilyn Monroe) that women had the role to meet; so, they are not shown as aesthetically pleasing in the narrative.

On the contrary, the tale of Cinderella also serves as a platform to explore the societal expectations around masculinity, as represented by the character of the prince. In the traditional version of the Cinderella storyline, Prince Charming is primarily defined by his financial status and societal standing, as opposed to his attributes or traits. “Meanwhile, the prince was thinking, ‘If everything else has gone wrong for you, now the slipper will help you find your bride.’ So he had a proclamation announced and declared that whichever maiden’s foot fit the golden slipper was to become his wife” (Grimm 75). Here, he can be described as boring with his main objective being the identification of the one who possesses the misplaced glass slipper. “The male hero in the traditional fairy tale does not seem to possess any characteristics besides his financial competence to secure the girl’s future” (Gheorghe). The prince’s interest in Cinderella predominantly stems from her physical attributes and the successful fitting of the slipper, which symbolizes society’s preexisting obsession with beauty and materialistic things. Furthermore, in her studies to analyze children’s response to being in the position of the prince, Ella Westland finds that “most of the boys, on the other hand, liked the idea of being a prince. The disadvantages were clearly outweighed by the advantages of wealth and power, which the boys easily translated into running kingdoms, driving fast cars, and spending ‘loads of money’” (Westland). The idea of having money flowed well with the young children whose minds weren’t fully developed. Overall, this could ultimately affect their mindset in the future.

Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” explores the feminine position aimed to attract men. The mermaid, the primary character, illustrates stereotypical female roles in the novel, which explores romance, self-sacrifice, and expectations from society:

Then the little mermaid raised her lovely white arms, stood on the tips of her toes, and glided over the floor, and danced as no one yet had been able to dance. At each moment her beauty became more revealed, and her expressive eyes appealed more directly to the heart than the songs of the slaves.

(Andersen 577)

The mermaid demonstrates her mild efforts to grab the prince’s attention, essentially competing with the other slaves and women. In his article, Saiful also claims that “the expressive eyes are shown as a tool for attracting the young prince’s affection regarding that she is dumb” (Saiful 80). Generally speaking, the mermaid illustrates the role of women to be used as a form of attracting men.

To conclude, in the world of Fairy Tales, the common portrayals of gender stereotypes, the standards of beauty set for females, and the concepts of feminine duty to attract men, are all demonstrations of the gender roles that are set in these stories. This can make someone think about how these fairy tales–which have been sources of inspiration and entertainment for quite some time–have subsequently influenced society and shaped the notions and ideas of gender roles in humanity today.