I think Belle is a pretty good role model, but Cinderella is a great role model.

I think both are great role models. Cinderella shows that through all of life's struggles, if you keep smiling and just bear it, you will be rewarded, and Belle sacrifices herself to save her father. She didn't know what the beast would do to her, but she stayed with him anyway. That takes courage.

Both, but I give the edge to Belle because she foments reading to children. It's a unique trait of her that other princesses didn't try to emulate.

When all is said and done, I think so.

I've never clicked something so fast. ESPECIALLY for the modern woman!! Cinderella still enforces stereotypes

Well, Cinderella displays surpassing emotional strength and self-control by doing her best to cultivate her good qualities - compassion, charity, diligence, graciousness, faithfulness, etc - notwithstanding the abusive treatment and the work conditions that reminisce slavery, which is all she receives from her step-family. She stands up for herself and claim her rights politely but firmly and tries her best to achieve her goal by her own handiwork. After she is unfairly tricked and beat, she is left disconsolate and impotent and accepts much-needed help, taking a leap to attain her dreams by risking recognition and public humiliation when she set foot in the palace's ballroom.

Belle is also wonderful: she is imaginative, individualistic, articulate, pious, courageous, resourceful, inquisitive... She selflessly takes her father's place as a prisoner to an unknown, dangerous creature. She doesn't take harassment from the Beast or from Gaston. But Cinderella wins over her because she was in a more challenging abusive relationship and has greater strength and kindness.

I give the edge to Cinderella. She has more patience than Belle does.

I think both are great role models, but I'll go with Cinderella. I really admire how she's able to remain positive during her obvious situation, as well as her confidence that things will improve. :)

honestly, i don't understand why people consider Cinderella a good role model?

so, you think being obedient, doing nothing and just wish eveything's gonna be alright in the end, is a good thing?

just imagine if you were a victim of domestic violence. would you just stay patient and hopeful, like Cinderella does? i mean, WTF guys

I don't like the way Cinderella cries hopelessly in the climax of the movie. Though I don't really like the time when Belle broke her promise when she ran away from the castle, she's still almost a perfect role model.

Awesome victim blaming there, angel. I never get tired of it. It's so gross that people honestly think Cinderella was the one at fault because people do blame victims all the time IRL like this. I don't get why this site realizes Rapunzel is not to blame for her situation but think Cinderella is.

And yes, that's why: an orphan with no reason to stay positive chooses to do so anyway in spite of her abusers' attempts to break her or force her to sink to their level. She works to get what she wants with none of our modern resources (and while I don't blame Belle for not leaving Maurice, it's interesting that nobody notes that Cinderella took more steps to achieve her dream while Belle took none). She protects others when it could get her in trouble. This all takes a lot of strength and dignity. Are modern people too pampered to understand how oppression works or something? Like, do some of you think the slaves should have fought back too?

I do like Belle's grace (honestly if Gaston had yanked MY book out of MY hand like that...), her touching love and loyalty towards Maurice. But otherwise she doesn't do anything I personally admire, especially since she has flaws I'm trying to overcome, and I don't value judginess or anything like that in a role model.

As for stereotypes, Belle completely fits the sexist "not like other girls" special snowflake Bella Swan cliche I loathe. I don't loathe Belle, I just hate that trope. She is not superior than the other villagers or DPs just for reading/wanting adventure/not actively wishing for romance.