damsels in distress
Endangered young women
Damsels in distress are women or girls in perilous situations who need rescue, typically by a heroic man.
The phrase evokes medieval romance and fairy tales—princesses locked in towers, maidens threatened by dragons.
As a narrative trope, it's been criticized for reducing women to passive objects of male heroism: The film subverts the damsel in distress cliché by having her rescue herself.
The singular form is more common.
- alasExpression of regret
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- helpAssistance given
- victimOne harmed by another
- saviorOne who rescues another
white knight · shining armor · save the day · captive · rescue mission · knight · maiden · courtly love · adventure · medieval romance · feminism · protector · villain · princess · tower · dragon's lair · chivalry · patriarchy
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- knighthoodknight, knights, knight errant, knights errant, Templars
- swashbucklersswashbuckler, swashbucklers, swashbuckling, pirate, pirates
damsels in distressheroines
Brave, admired women
amazons · valkyries · shield-maidens · female warriors · shieldmaidens
damsels in distressrescuers
Those who save endangered people
heroes · knights in shining armor · saviors · champions · white knights
damsels in distressfinal girls
Horror heroines who survive
Ripley · Sarah Connor · Wonder Woman · Xena · Katniss Everdeen
damsel, damsels, distress, distressed, distressing, distressful, stress, stressed, stressful