Nothing demeans young women like the stereotype that they are always in danger and only men are capable of saving them.

The damsel in distress, one of my least favorite tropes, is present in every form of popular media and needs to disappear as soon as possible.

This trope can be seen in Greek and Nordic mythology, with women like Andromeda being saved by the hero Perseus and Idun being saved by Loki. It seems women have always been incapable of saving themselves.

As time has progressed, this trope has moved from spoken word to written word and from paintings to film, reinforcing the belief that a woman is capable of being easily taken and held hostage. That is, until a man can come to save her.

A damsel can come in any variety. Some women will struggle, some will give up and some will fight back with everything they’ve got. While those that fight back are better than the women who simply give up on contact, the fact that these women are taken as a plot device is frustrating in-and-of itself.

I can’t help but ask why this trope exists. Because it began in antiquity, it can only be assumed that it was created to remind women of their place in the world – subservient to men.

But in this modern era, why do we rely on ideas from antiquity?

Women are constantly pushing to be equals, yet in films, TV and video games, we continue to be ambushed and held hostage.

What’s even more frustrating is that in films where women are fighting along side men, it is inevitable that the woman will fall or stumble. When this happens, don’t fret, the man is there to catch and pull her up. This happens in every action film. Once you notice it, you won’t be able to stop.

This is most likely due to the fact that she’s wearing high heels, but I guess those are the only shoes she owns that match her low-cut tank top and tight leather jacket. If I knew I was going to be fighting crime, I’d probably wear steel-toed boots and a bulletproof vest. But that’s just me.

This trope continues to reinforce the idea that women are useless. They will always need a man to save them. Nothing is more frustrating than hearing that, as a woman in modern times, I’m still helpless, still incapable of fending for myself.

This trope is nothing more than society’s attempt to hold onto antiquated ideals that no longer apply to the modern age. Even when women try and fend for themselves, they have to be propped up by a man.

I can only hope that every woman out there knows that they don’t have to be damsels in distress. They are empowered individuals that don’t need rescuing.