History Main / GrewASpine

* Pictured above, in the climax of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' Season 1 finale, Anne learns to stand up to her longtime friend Sasha and calls her out for her overly controlling behavior.

* At the end of ''Film/TheHangover'', Stu finally stands up to his overbearing girlfriend Melissa, even going so far as to dump her.

* In the climax of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' Season 1 finale, Anne learns to stand up to her longtime friend Sasha and calls her out for her overly controlling behavior.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
** In "A Shroomish Skirmish", May's Torchic stands up to a wild Breloom in order to defend Ash's Corphish, who kept protecting it from its attacks, and is through being a coward, which led it evolve into Combusken because of its resolve.
** In "Mounting an Electrifying Charge!", Sophocles defends himself and his Charjabug, after a fellow contestant insults them before the Charjabug race.
** In "Family Determination!", after listening to Ash stating that sometimes you can't do everything on your own, Lillie realizes that he is right and finds the courage to stand up to Gladion. Lillie also tells Gladion that they have a better chance of getting their mother back from Ultra Space if they have their friends go with them on their quest. Hearing this, Gladion is not only surprised that his little sister just stood up to him, but he also understands what she and Ash are talking about.
** In "10,000,000 Reasons to Fight!", Lillie tells her mother Lusamine, who is being controlled by Nihilego, how she feels about treating her like a baby.
** In "We Know Where You're Going, Eevee!", wanting to protect its best friend, Eevee, Lana's Popplio finds the courage to battle against Team Skull.

* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': This is the conclusion of Zenitsu's character arc; he finally forces himself to grow out of his self-depreciating mental abyss, forsaking his sleep trance mode entirely, when the tragedy of his master's death strikes, going on to face the cause of said tragedy in the form of his former fellow disciple, Kaigaku, who now turned into a demon, traitor of the demon slayers; Zenitsu faces Kaigaku head-on and kills him, the older disciple whom Zenitsu was previously completely submissive to out of a mix of respect and an inferiority complex. Despite their differences, however, Zenitsu still wanted to see him as a brother before everything went south.
* ''Manga/FruitsBasket'': As part of her character development, Tohru Honda learns to stand up for what she believes in (like breaking the Zodiac curse) and even put her needs before others once in a while.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': Peter Parker would often [[NiceGuy politely put up]] with Anna Watson's [[IrrationalHatred condescending dislike]] for him. But when Mary Jane got kidnapped and she accusses him for being the cause of her niece's disappearance. Peter rightfully got angry with her. Later on, when Mary Jane returned safe and sound, [[PettheDog Aunt Anna hugged Peter]], showing that she may even [[TookALevelInKindness start to respect him]] after all these years.

This trope is frequently seen in ComingOfAgeStory. Some starting points for this trope is the ExtremeDoormat or ShrinkingViolet, but the character might just be inexperienced and unsure of themselves. After all, this is all part of growing up. CallingTheOldManOut is a specific subtrope. May coincide with TookALevelInBadass, TheDogBitesBack, or SuddenPrincipledStand. Has nothing to do with the evolution of vertebrate animals.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story arc ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', the titular Bizarro gets frightened and runs away when it’s time to face the enemy eating her planet, but she becomes more courageous after talking to Supergirl.

* In the ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'' fan comic ''Foob’s Paradise'', Deanna is constantly running herself ragged with her job, cooking, cleaning and child rearing because Michael either spends his time writing or being an EntitledBastard, to the point where she’s openly on the verge of a mental breakdown. After some advice from Mira, she starts calling out Michael for his complaining and bad attitude and buys a Crock-Pot and rice cooker and demands that Michael at least learn to cook. This and [[spoiler: a nightmare about him dying in the fire and his family not caring]] get Michael to be a better husband and father.

* The last verse of Music/ThePuppiniSisters’ “Jilted” is about learning from the experience of being, yes, jilted, and gaining a spine as a consequence.

And learn new friends’ names\\

* At the start of volume 10 of ''WebComic/MenageA3'', ExtremeDoormat Gary ''finally'' stands up for himself when pulled into the middle of Tracy's and James’ relationship mess. In a nice ironic twist, Gary has a momentary flashback to some good advice about showing courage which Tracy herself gave him just a few days earlier — and politely thanks her for that advice.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'': Mina, Trina’s best friend takes a ''lot'' of abuse for her, including changing her name so that they match. But in the GrandFinale, when Trina abandons both her and the heroes to die so that she can be with her unrequited crush, Mina ''loses it'' and gives Trina a long overdue demand for her to give her best friend some proper respect.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': Peter Parker would often [[NiceGuy politely put up]] with Anna Watson's [[IrrationalHatred condescending dislike]] for him. But when Mary Jane got kidnapped and she accusses him for being the cause of her niece’s disappearance. Peter rightfully got angry with her. Later on, when Mary Jane returned safe and sound, [[PettheDog Aunt Anna hugged Peter]], showing that she may even [[TookALevelInKindness start to respect him]] after all these years.

* ''Anime/SevenMortalSins'': At the start of the series, Maria couldn't do anything but cry as Lucifer forcefully dragged her around. After some time though she slowly lost her fear of the Demon Lords around her. This is demonstrated when she shames Mammon for the cold way she raises her children, and later when she actually challenges Lucifer when she is led to believe that [[ItMakesSenseInContext the fallen angel was terrorizing an alternative world]] ForTheEvulz.
* ''Manga/SevenSeeds'': Natsu Iwashimizu's character development revolves around this. She started off avoiding [[{{Hikkikomori}} participating in school]] a lot and was much too shy, slow and afraid of other people to do anything on her own, only following instructions or advice. But she has learned to do things on her own more and more, including standing up to people trying to put her down.

* ''Series/TheWilds'': Josh becomes more confident during his time on the island.

* Sophie Grundler from ''VideoGame/TheSandman''. She's been a StepfordSmiler for years, trying to put on a brave face and seem okay because she didn't want to cause any trouble to her father, who's busy working and trying to raise her after his wife's death. Her tendency to bottle everything up, as well as pretending to not stand up to her [[WeUsedToBeFriends once-friend-turned-bully]] Regan, caused her insomnia and led to the game's events. In the good ending ''Don't Stay Up Late At Night'', Sophie grows herself a spine and chooses to openly talk about her feelings now, as well as when things bother her; this includes giving a good round of [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech The Reason You Suck Speeches]].

** Likewise, Butters himself was usually submissive towards Cartman and did what Cartman wanted out of fear of him. However it would be revealed in a [[WesternAnimation/SouthParkPostCovidTheReturnOfCovid revised timeline]], that Butters had cut ties with Cartman in his adulthood and has told his friend not to waste time feeling bad for Cartman being a CrazyHomelessPerson, while cusses back at him when Cartman tries flipping him off.

** Likewise, Butters himself was usually submissive towards Cartman and did what Cartman wanted out of fear of him. However it would be revealed in revised timeline of ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkPostCovidTheReturnOfCovid'', that Butters had cut ties with Cartman in his adulthood and has told his friend not to waste time feeling bad for Cartman being a CrazyHomelessPerson, while cusses back at him when Cartman tries flipping him off.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': Throughout Season 21, Heidi Turner had to deal with being mentally abused by her boyfriend Eric Cartman. By "Splatty Tomato" Heidi no longer wants to be his victim and finds the courage to break up with him for good, even leaving while he threatens to kill himself.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'': In the first season episode "Paintball Deer Hunter", Beth finally decides she's had enough of Heather bossing her around, defiantly answering with a "No." to Heather's latest request before declaring she has quit their alliance.

* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', this is Simon's character arc in the first half of the story. Simon is a complete wimp unless his CoolBigBro Kamina is around, and relies on him for confidence. But after Kamina [[spoiler:bites the dust in Episode 8 while recovering Team Gurren's new home base]], Simon learns to start standing on his own, becoming rather like Kamina in the process.
* ''Manga/SevenSeeds'' has Natsu Iwashimizu's character development revolve around this. She started off avoiding [[{{Hikkikomori}} participating in school]] a lot and was much too shy, slow and afraid of other people to do anything on her own, only following instructions or advice. But she has learned to do things on her own more and more, including standing up to people trying to put her down.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'''s protagonist Shinji Ikari, despite being often criticized for lacking a spine, actually tends to try and be more confident in himself and self-assured. [[DeconstructedTrope These attempts keep backfiring and sinking him further into despair and pain.]] However, when at the brink of humanity's end, he decides to choose to keep living in a painful world and not doom humanity to loss of individuality and such [[EarnYourHappyEnding earns a happy ending]].
** In ''Rebuild of Evangelion'', Shinji both grows a spine and becomes more badass during the battle against Zeruel. Sadly, [[spoiler:the repercussions of Shinji actually growing a spine for once include humanity being reduced to a fraction of that it used to be.]]
* Yukiteru of ''Manga/FutureDiary''. This [[SanitySlippage backfires horribly]], until he manages to {{earn|YourHappyEnding}} his ''[[BittersweetEnding almost]]'' {{happy ending}}.
* Hiroko in ''Manga/AKB49RenaiKinshiJourei'' opposed her FantasyForbiddingFather for the first time in her life after he demanded her to quit her aspirations as an IdolSinger and she refused, which led to her father estranging her and her gaining even more resolve than before to pursue her dreams.
* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood'': Jonathan Joestar is constantly beaten up and humiliated by Dio Brando, but he's too timid to stand up to him. Then Dio [[ForcefulKiss steals the]] SacredFirstKiss of Jonathan's LoveInterest Erina and attacks her for immediately washing her mouth out with muddy puddle water, and that's the final straw: Jonathan personally confronts Dio at the Joestar family mansion and beats him so brutally that Dio actually bursts into tears.
** In ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable'', this is the way [[AudienceSurrogate Koichi Hirose]] unlocks the next EvolutionPowerUp for his Stand, Echoes. Whenever he found a reason to stop running in fear of an enemy, Echoes would evolve into a new form to match the growth of Koichi's soul.
* ''Manga/{{Monster}}'': Kenzo Tenma decides to stop being the doormat of his fianceé and his boss after seeing the immorality of both (the fianceé is not that evil, but this still counts).
* ''Manga/YuGiOh'': This is basically the regular Yugi's character arc, as he grows independent of having Yami Yugi as his crutch in life and starts making his own decisions.
* Maria of ''Anime/SevenMortalSins''. At the start of the series, she couldn't do anything but cry as Lucifer forcefully dragged her around. After some time though she slowly lost her fear of the Demon Lords around her. This is demonstrated when she shames Mammon for the cold way she raises her children, and later when she actually challenges Lucifer when she is led to believe that [[ItMakesSenseInContext the fallen angel was terrorizing an alternative world]] ForTheEvulz.
* As a SchoolgirlSeries with an emphasis on the ComingOfAgeStory aspect of it, ''Manga/AsteroidInLove'' does this to some of the more introverted characters.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', it is the conclusion of Zenitsu’s character arc; he finally forces himself to grow out of his self-depreciating mental abyss, forsaking his sleep trance mode entirely, when the tragedy of his master’s death strikes, going on to face the cause of said tragedy in the form of his former fellow disciple, Kaigaku, who now turned into a demon, traitor of the demon slayers; Zenitsu faces Kaigaku head on, and kills him, the older disciple whom Zenitsu was completely submissive to before due seeing himself as inferior and partially out of respect, despite their differences Zenitsu still wanted to see him as a brother before everything went south.

** After being inspired by Asta, Finral resolves to become less passive and cowardly, with him training his magic and standing his ground against his brother.
** She begins as a sweet, demure girl who mostly uses her magic for healing. After meeting Asta, she's inspired to become stronger. By the time of the Royal Knights Tournament, she's learned Attack spells and become much more confident and headstrong, giving orders in battle which even pleasantly surprises Asta.
* As part of her character development, Tohru Honda in ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' learns to stand up for what she believes in (like breaking the Zodiac curse) and even put her needs before others once in a while.

** And thanks to Shinji and Asuka's influence, [[EmotionlessGirl Rei]] develops one as well...covertly, so as not to cue Gendo in to the fact.

* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': Due to being older, Shinji Ikari is less wimpy in this fic that his canon counterpart, but he is still somewhat of a wuss with no motivation or drive to live on. During pillow talk [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] said to him that he could not keep that attitude when [[LivingEmotionalCrutch people like herself depended on him to live]]. And in fact, in the second story arc [[BrokenAce Asuka]] [[DespairEventHorizon went through a downward spiral]] and Shinji needed growing a spine to help her and save her from herself.

-->-- '''Creator/KellyClarkson''', ''Catch My Breath''

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'': Mina, Trina’s best friend takes a ''lot'' of abuse for her, including changing her name so that they match. But in the GrandFinale, when Trina abandons both her and the heroes to die so that she can be with her unrequited crush, Mina ''loses it.''

* ''FanFic/ErasedPotential'' sees Izuku becoming more confident thanks to [[ForWantOfANail convincing Aizawa to teach him how to become a]] GuileHero despite being Quirkless. Katsuki first learns about this shift when Izuku stands up for himself against their middle school teacher's attempt to humiliate him into giving up on U.A.
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': Due to being older, Shinji Ikari is less wimpy in this fic that his canon counterpart, but he is still somewhat of a wuss with no motivation or drive to live on. During pillow talk [[FieryRedhead Asuka]] said to him that he could not keep that attitude when [[LivingEmotionalCrutch people like herself depended on him to live]]. And in fact, in the second story arc [[BrokenAce Asuka]] [[DespairEventHorizon went through a downward spiral]] and Shinji needed growing a spine to help her and save her from herself.

* {{Downplayed| Trope}} in ''FanFic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide''. Shinji is still pretty insecure and timid, but he makes an effort to become more assertive, since he knows he will let Asuka and his family down again unless he stops running away, mans up, and takes responsibility for his actions, and he even gradually succeeds in doing so. It is perhaps most obvious in his interactions with Asuka, especially after he gains a better understanding of her; he finds that while it just isn't in his nature to be confrontational with her (plus he knows that such an approach wouldn't be very likely to change her mind anyway), he can, often successfully, appeal to her better nature during an argument.

* ''FanFic/TheOneToMakeItStay'' [[DownplayedTrope downplays this]]: While Marinette is no ShrinkingViolet, a key part of her CharacterArc is learning how to stand up for herself. Not just against obvious bullies like [[AlphaBitch Chloe]] and [[ManipulativeBitch Lila]], but against things like her friend Alya [[ControlFreak being pushy and controlling]], or Chat Noir's [[EntitledToHaveYou entitlement]] and refusal to take 'No' for an answer.

* ''Fanfic/ShinjiAndWarhammer40K'': Possibly The Most Triumphant Example in Evangelion fanfiction, this fic is the tale of a wuss becoming God Emperor of Humankind. At the start of the story Shinji is his wimpy canon self, but after finding a suitcase full with ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' figurines and books he gradually grows a gigantic spine, becoming an utterly fearless badass that earns the reverence of his people for his heroism and the love of women for his gentleness.

%% * This is Tris's character arc in ''Literature/{{Divergent}}'', as she's initiated into a community of brave and reckless adrenaline junkies.

[[folder:Mythology]]
* In some interpretations, Adam and Eve eating the [[ForbiddenFruit fruit of knowledge]].
[[/folder]]

* [[LivingShadow Vivian]] from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' starts the game as a ShrinkingViolet who lets herself get bullied and pushed around by her [[BigSisterBully older sister Beldam]]. However, after [[HeelFaceTurn joining Mario]] and having actual support, Vivian slowly becomes way more assertive, to the point where, if you have her out during the fight with the Shadow Sirens at the end of the game, she will actually tell Beldam off.

->"TRINA RIFFIN!!! I am your BFF! I have been zapped, soaked, swamped, gooped, and probably broke like a hundred laws FOR YOU!!! You left me behind to get smooshed so you could save a boy WHO'S NOT! THAT! INTO YOU!!!"