History Main / MeeknessisWeakness

* In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 The Return of Harmony Part 1]]" from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Discord tried to use this trope to hypnotize and corrupt Fluttershy. It doesn't work, so Discord is forced to hypnotize her by force.

* ''FirstLoveAndForever'', written by Anita Stansfield, is about Emily Hall, who tries to be the best possible wife and mother she could be, but for all her effort her husband makes her feel worthless. It gets worse for her before it gets better.

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is betrayed and abandoned or the strong independent woman succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person ''and'' have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story, but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenDontWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

If the character is responsible and pacifistic it will lead to BewareTheNiceOnes. Selflessness, on the other hand, is a flaw that will be punished, either by the other characters, the writers or both. This is usually portrayed as a woman being domestic (either by choice or society's expectation), maternal or just being kind-hearted. Maybe the good girl is picked on just because she is an easy target (like when she is the poor DesignatedVictim), or perhaps it is the writers' way of avoiding making her a MarySue.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Averted by Hungary and Liechtenstein from ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia''. The first went through a GirlinessUpgrade, but her fighting skills did NOT decrease [[CurbStompBattle as Prussia can attest]]. The second is softspoken and quiet, but she handles her brother Switzerland's HairTriggerTemper very calmly.

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the strong independent woman succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person ''and'' have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story, but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenDontWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the strong independent woman succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person and even have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story, but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenDontWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

->''When you put everyone else first you end up last.''

* In ''Felicity Learns A Lesson'' of the ''Franchise/AmericanGirlsCollection'', all any female cares for is learning how to serve tea and do stitchery, except the protagonist, who would like to attend college to study Greek, Latin, philosophy and geography, just as the young gentlemen do.

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels strong independent woman]] succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person and even have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story, but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenDontWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

* Once Manga/{{Nana}} "Hachi" Komatsu decides that she's going to be more mature and start being friends with guys she meets, she begins a serious relationship with Shoji, whom she decides to follow to Tokyo. When she gets there she wants to keep house for him "like a wife", but after a while he starts cheating on her and leaves her for the other woman. Things just go down hill for her after that.

* Once Manga/{{Nana}} "Hachi" Komatsu decides that she's going to be more mature and start being friends with guys she meets, she begins a serious relationship with Shoji, whom she decides to follow to Tokyo. When she gets there she wants to keep house for him �like a wife�, but after a while he starts cheating on her and leaves her for the other woman. Things just go down hill for her after that.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* Once Manga/{{Nana}} “Hachi” Komatsu decides that she's going to be more mature and start being friends with guys she meets, she begins a serious relationship with Shoji, whom she decides to follow to Tokyo. When she gets there she wants to keep house for him “like a wife”, but after a while he starts cheating on her and leaves her for the other woman. Things just go down hill for her after that.

[[AC: {{Film}}]]

* ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'''s Giselle is a subversion, as she is a naïve damsel who wants to do Robert's housework (with the aid of adorable critters like roaches and rats). Both Robert and Prince Edward want to protect her, but in the end she's the one who saves Robert when he's in danger.
* Julia Stiles's character is an inversion in ''Film/MonaLisaSmile'' when she stood up for her decision to be a housewife to Julia Roberts's character saying, “You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.”

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'''s Lana Lang can be a little too faithful of a girlfriend. Seen best in Nicodemus when Lana tells Whitney that she feels like she's “locked in this relationship out of guilt.” A little later she talks to Lex referring to her usual self as an insecure little girl. She's also a big contrast to the self reliant Lois Lane who will end up with Clark.

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

* Once {{Nana}} “Hachi” Komatsu decides that she's going to be more mature and start being friends with guys she meets, she begins a serious relationship with Shoji, whom she decides to follow to Tokyo. When she gets there she wants to keep house for him “like a wife”, but after a while he starts cheating on her and leaves her for the other woman. Things just go down hill for her after that.

* Stay-at-home-mom Linda Hanson from ''{{Premonition}}'' makes the decision to love her husband so he will change his mind about cheating on her.

* ''{{Enchanted}}'''s Giselle is a subversion, as she is a naïve damsel who wants to do Robert's housework (with the aid of adorable critters like roaches and rats). Both Robert and Prince Edward want to protect her, but in the end she's the one who saves Robert when he's in danger.
* Julia Stiles's character is an inversion in ''MonaLisaSmile'' when she stood up for her decision to be a housewife to Julia Roberts's character saying, “You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.”

* ''TheStepfordWives'' has a whole community of women who are their husband's patient, subservient and impossibly beautiful robot mistresses.

* Averted by Hungary and Liechtenstein from ''{{Hetalia}}''. The first went through a GirlinessUpgrade, but her fighting skills did NOT decrease [[CurbStompBattle as Prussia can attest]]. The second is softspoken and quiet, but she handles her brother Switzerland's HairTriggerTemper very calmly.

* Mary Jane Watson from the ''{{Film/Spider-Man}}'' films goes from being the girl with the abusive, alcoholic father to being the love interest who is happy to rely on her hero to rescue her again and again.

* The ''DearAmerica'' book ''A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska'' says that she is trying to be a patient and loving wife and mother but her husband doesn't appreciate anything she does.

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels strong independent woman]] succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person and even have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story, but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenNeverWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

* In ''Felicity Learns A Lesson'' of the ''AmericanGirlsCollection'', all any female cares for is learning how to serve tea and do stitchery, except the protagonist, who would like to attend college to study Greek, Latin, philosophy and geography, just as the young gentlemen do.

* ''{{Smallville}}'''s Lana Lang can be a little too faithful of a girlfriend. Seen best in Nicodemus when Lana tells Whitney that she feels like she's “locked in this relationship out of guilt.” A little later she talks to Lex referring to her usual self as an insecure little girl. She's also a big contrast to the self reliant Lois Lane who will end up with Clark.
* In ''KyleXY'' there's Amanda Bloom, who ended her first relationship of the series when she learned that he had cheated on her. She says that she ends her relationship with Kyle, not because he kissed Jessi, but because she can't be with him when she's losing him to someone else.

* Averted by Hungary and Liechtenstein from {{Hetalia}}. The first went through a GirlinessUpgrade, but her fighting skills did NOT decrease [[CurbStompBattle as Prussia can attest]]. The second is softspoken and quiet, but she handles her brother Switzerland's HairTriggerTemper very calmly.

-->-- '''Angela Petrelli''', ''{{Heroes}}''

* In the episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 The Return of Harmony Part 1]]" from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Discord tried to use this trope to hypnotize and corrupt Fluttershy. It doesn't work, so Discord is forced to hypnotize her by force.

* In the episode "The Return of Harmony Part 1" from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Discord tried to use this trope to hypnotize and corrupt Fluttershy. It doesn't work, so Discord is forced to hypnotize her by force.

If the character is responsible and pacifistic it will lead to BewareTheNiceOnes. Selflessness on the other hand, is a flaw that will be punished, either by the other characters, the writers or both. This is usually portrayed as a women being domestic (either by choice or society's expectation), maternal or just being kind-hearted. Maybe the good girl is picked on just because she is an easy target like when she is the poor DesignatedVictim or perhaps it is the writers' way of avoiding making her a MarySue.

Her weakness might be her lack of individuality, having no thoughts besides how a woman's place is in the home (or interests that aren't domestic) and how she should stand by the man in her life. Or she's a women who seems to have had nothing to do with her life so she figures that the one thing she can be good at is raising a child, so that's what she'll do because how hard can it be?

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels strong independent woman]] succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person and even have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenNeverWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, and TheIngenue.

* Stay-at-home-mom Linda Hanson from {{Premonition}} makes the decision to love her husband so he will change his mind about cheating on her
* {{Smallville}}'s Lana Lang can be a little too faithful of a girlfriend. Seen best in Nicodemus when Lana tells Whitney that she feels like she's “locked in this relationship out of guilt.” A little later she talks to Lex referring to her usual self as an insecure little girl. She's also a big contrast to the self reliant Lois Lane who will end up with Clark.

* In ''Felicity Learns A Lesson'' of the AmericanGirlsCollection all any female cares for is learning how to serve tea and do stitchery except the protagonist who would like to attend college to study Greek, Latin, philosophy and geography, just as the young gentlemen do.

* Once {{Nana}} “Hachi” Komatsu decides that she's going to be more mature and start being friends with guys, she meets she begins a serious relationship with Shoji who she decides to follow to Tokyo. When she gets there she wants to keep house for him “like a wife” but after a while he cheats on her and leaves her for the other woman. Things just go down hill for her after that.
* In ''KyleXY'' there's Amanda Bloom who ended her first relationship of the series when she learned that he had cheated on her. She says that she ends her relationship with Kyle, not because he kissed Jessi, but because she can't be with him when she's losing him to someone else.

* ''FirstLoveAndForever'', written by Anita Stansfield, is about Emily Hall who tries to be the best possible wife and mother she could be, but for all her effort her husband makes her feel worthless. It gets worse for her before it gets better.
* The DearAmerica book ''A Coal Miner's Bride : The Diary of Anetka Kaminska'' says that she is trying to be a patient and loving wife and mother but her husband doesn't appreciate anything she does.
* ''{{Enchanted}}'''s Giselle is a subversion as she is a naïve damsel who wants to do Robert's housework but both Robert and Prince Edward want to protect her and she even saves Robert when he's in danger.
* Julia Stiles character is an inversion in ''MonaLisaSmile'' when she stood up for her decision to be a housewife to Julia Roberts character saying, “You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.”

It might be that the dependent wife or girlfriend is [[YourCheatingHeart betrayed]] and abandoned or the [[GirlsNeedRoleModels strong independent woman]] succeeds where the sweetheart fails. She might grow into a stronger person and even have a loving, healthy relationship by the end of the story but don't count on it. Basically the [[StepfordSmiler good girl image]] will be used as an excuse to be cold, cowardly or clingy. Subject to UnfortunateImplications, as if to suggest that it's true that RealWomenNeverWearDresses or NiceGuysFinishLast. Contrast the YamatoNadeshiko and the sit-com {{Housewife}} (who are domestic but strong) as well as the MamaBear (who is strong and maternal) and TheChick (who is strong but kind-hearted). Compare NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, BeingGoodSucks, DoggedNiceGuy, BreakTheCutie, FemaleSuccessIsFamily and TheIngenue.