A Definitive Ranking Of Disney Princesses As Feminist Role Models

You know Disney princesses aren’t real. Many of the animated royals are rooted in actual time periods, political movements, or are loose interpretations of historical figures. But, they’re 100% animated characters who inexplicably sing all the time. That doesn’t mean we can’t use them to start a conversation about feminism, though.

For a word that’s got a fairly straight-forward definition, feminism sure is a shades-of-gray kind of term. Merriam-Webster says it’s "the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities" and the "organized activity in support of women's rights and interests." We’re into that. But, just to show you how we’re grading the ladies in question, here, we’ve created a rubric. We’ll consider:

1. The role of men in the princess' life: How independent are they? If their goal in life is to simply find love, that’s totally fine. Feminism is about having the choice to marry, not being forced to.
2. Economic agency: Are they stuck? Is marriage/financial union the only way for them to advance?
3. Activism & Shine Factor: How proactive are they in their situation? How do they empower and support other women?

Ahead, we’ve ranked the Disney princesses according to these standards. How does your favorite princess rate?