Many classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White, portray female protagonists as passive, gentle, and dependent on external rescue—often by a male hero. These characters are frequently valued for their beauty, obedience, and kindness rather than their agency or decision-making. In contrast, male characters like princes are typically cast as brave, active saviors who resolve the central conflict and determine the story's outcome, reinforcing traditional gender expectations of women as caregivers and men as protectors.