Just because so far, there hasn't been a princess that didn't end up with a guy at the end. As long as there's more or less mandatory happily ever after, we still haven't gotten a princess that was content to just be herself and do her own thing. Until we reach that point, I don't think we've really 'arrived' as far as representation. Right now, some of the princesses are tough, smart, and independent, but they still end up with a dude as their happily ever after, and I'm not willing to accept that forever, as much as I enjoy the movies.

And also, I don't think Rapunzel counts as 'badass.' I think she's a really good blend of girly and princessy and still kind of 'badass,' in a minor way, because of her hair powers.

It's not that I dislike the power woman, not at all - I'm just frustrated that those are the only kind of "princesses" they made since Jasmine (with the notable exception of Rapunzel). I think, that's the reason I like Rapunzel, Belle, Cinderella and Mulan the most - Rapunzel and Belle are a perfect blend out of "girlyness" and "badass", in being than badass when they have to be, but not in an unrealistic manner (I think, Rapunzel knocking out Flynn with her frying pan and then leaping back in fear is the most realistic thing I have ever seen in a disney movie). Cinderella presents very much the clichee-woman, but she is strong in her own right nevertheless. And Mulan presents the "badass" fraction, but it's a realistical variant of it - she doesn't do always everything right, she doesn't just wake up one morning and decides to go on an adventure just for fun, and she has to work hard to become a fighter. And the movie doesn't say that it's wrong to take the more traditional route - it's just not the right way for Mulan.
I really hate the high standarts Disney sets with those shark-fighting, cliffleaping, adventure seeking career woman. It's not that I mind to have some of them, but I want a good mix. And I don't care if they end up with a man or not. It's not like the hero doesn't get the girl in the end, so why shouldn't the heroine get the boy? That's just fair.

Why make a weak princess? That would influence others to just depend on others. And I think that's what's great about Disney. It inspires us to go beyond our abilities.

But I guess it would be okay if they make a girly princess, just as long as she's not a damsel in distress who's just waiting to be saved.

no, i actually love that. that's why all of those princesses are in my top 5; snow white being the exception

It's a nice characterization, but after a while it gets a little tiresome.

I prefer traditional women roles.

@chesire No princess ever has been a damsel in distress - as long as they were still concious, they always fought, to the best of their abilities. And girly doesn't mean weak. See the Harry Potter Books: Molly Weasley is the typical housewife, does everything for the family - but she is also a force to be reconned with, respected by her whole family, and god help who tries to touch her children (as Bellatrix learned the hard way). Being strong doesn't mean that you always get what you wants, or that you can kick down everyone who crosses you. And really, I take Cinderellas over a so called "strong" woman, who nevertheless ends up being in trouble although she should be competent enough to avoid capture. I have no problem with a woman who react realistical in a situation she is not trained for, but does her best. I have a big problem with a woman who always emphasises on her bravery, but doesn't act when it counts.

^ I completely agree with you there, Swanpride. I despise movies where the princess/heroine has huge accomplishments in swordplay or verbal banter or whatever, but still has to be rescued at the end. I want a princess who is self sufficient all the way through. In fact, my biggest disappointments with Tiana, the last princess I was truly excited about, was that she still was willing to sacrifice all her hard work for a boy. I guess what I'm disappointed by is not that we still include a love story in every single story, but that it's still deemed more or less necessary. We HAVE to fall in love becuase THAT is what matters, despite everything else, and I don't like that.

You have a point there - I don't think that the intended message was "you have to find a man to be happy", but "friendship and love are just as important as a career", but I see how one can interpret it that way (although Tiana has both at the end). One of the reason I like Tangled so much is that it isn't about the love story at all - well, naturally there is a love story, but that's not the focus of Rapunzel. It just happens naturally. And now, that I think about it, the some is true for Belle, Cinderella and Mulan - neither went out to get a man, it just happened along the way. They didn't even think about marriage when they met their respective others.

badass women for the wind !!!!!!

I'll like any princess. Doesn't matter to me.

I think women should be smart,pretty,&& powerful. I think Rapunzel fits those characteristics, but I would LOVE for a princess to save a prince at the last minute.

I think it's definitely "good" per se that the newer Princesses are more "badass", because they reflect the time in which their movie was made. Why make a Cinderella type of Princess now, when children are completely different now than they were 50 years ago? It wouldn't make any sense.

Though I think with Rapunzel they tried TOO hard to make her a mixture of "girly" yet "badass" and it was distracting. I think this about most of the characters in Tangled though, that they just tried way too hard to force the audience to like them and that's the exact reason I'm not too fond of the movie.

I completely agree with Mongoose.

I think it's great to have a variety of different types of princesses. If all of the princesses were girly, it would be boring. If all of the princesses were badass, it would be boring.

I'm all for bad ass women but I still want my princesses to be girly! I guess I just like a mix :) I really agree with what princessforlife said though

I want to see more traditional ones for maybe a year or two not saying one is better or worse than the other but just something different I would still see a movie that had a damsel in distress (as long as that damsel had sufficient screen time )