In being competent, brave and independent, Merida acts as a new kind of role model for young girls. Studies have shown that when girls see female characters with these traits they are more likely to envision themselves with those same traits and report higher levels of self-esteem and broader aspirations (Coyne et al., 2016; Dinella, et al. 2023). Exposure to the typical princess ideal can reinforce limited beliefs on what girls can or should be (Zhai, 2023). This influences how they see themselves both in body image and the future roles they imagine for themselves (Coyne et al., 2016).
A recent study by Dinella et al. (2023) found that when children are exposed to princesses who behave in active and assertive ways, they are more likely to see both the characters and themselves as less restricted by traditional gender roles. This is particularly important for girls, who tend to identify closely with princess characters and may model their own behaviour on them.
Another study by Smith et al. (2010) found that a lack of female characters in films aimed at children can cause young girls to internalise the idea that stories about women and girls are not worth telling, negatively impacting their self-esteem and belief in their own value. Characters like Merida therefore have the potential to shift how girls understand what it means to be a princess and what it means to be a girl.