Beast??? Definetely not.

Beast takes FOREVER to decide not to be abusive and nasty to his servants and other people.
At least Eric and Phillip were open to dating and marrying "quirky women" who did not quite fit the "rigid constraints" of their societies.

He was the first that many people viewed as having a personality (I disagree btw, but whatever), and also the first that wasn't born a Prince & not fit the typical "Prince" archetype.

also Phillip for being the first to have more of a presence on screen and take more action than his predecessors.

I think my poll is a little confusing
By progressive i mean "advocate of social reform" a person who support new idea and social changes as oppose to traditionalist

Yeah, I don't get how the Beast is winning. Because he gave her a library? Reading wasn't uncommon for women.

^Maybe those who picked Beast understood the question like Mongoose did(not who has the most progressive beliefs views but the one who changed the understanding the concept of prince and love interest the most). Beast was the first prince to be jerkish and not to fall in love with the female lead from the first sight. But I still disagree with them because I don't think it's good, I don't think it's changes for better. I believe that princes like Eric are ones who make DP movies pro-woman. I believe it's really awesome and pro-woman that Classic DPs had such charming, caring and sweet gentlemans as love interests. Not a fan of Classic era but they deserve a credit for this aspect.

Shang is totally chill with Mulan being a woman and a fighter by the end of the movie.