One of my favorite parenting websites, Geekmom, just wrapped up Princess Week, an interesting theme for a site that focuses on raising intelligent, confident girls who enjoy and succeed at whatever they want to, especially math, science and the arts. The week’s posts, like this one by Rebecca Angel, looked at the pros and cons of the conventional princess character in pop culture and children’s literature. As expected, much of the criticism of the princess ideal focuses on negative portrayal of girls as helpless and in constant need of a male rescuer. This idea is near to my heart as the parent of a whip-smart little girl who I hope has every chance to succeed at whatever she wants to do in life, so continuing the theme I started in this post 2 weeks ago I would like to present my totally non-exhaustive and not at all authoritative list of 11 fictional female characters who set great examples for young girls to look up to. As always, these are not in any particular order, though I think #1 is where she belongs.
1. Hermione Granger
You know her from: Harry Potter books and movies
Portayed on film by: Emma Watson
Created by: J.K. Rowling
Reasons she makes this list: Hermione OWNS this list. If I could have Yosi look up to one character on this list, it would be Hermione. She is the ultimate heroine – tough but tender, talented but (mostly) unconceited, bookish but stylish, highly intelligent but generous to those who aren’t, merciful but savvy. She is the most well-rounded character in the Harry Potter book (and movie) series, and arguably the most important, as Harry would be completely hosed in almost every challenge he faces in the series without her help, though he could often get by without Ron. I like Ron, but Hermione is definitely marrying down when she ends up with him, and you have to figure sooner or later she’ll figure that out.
Reasons she could be left off this list: None come to mind.
2. Eowyn
You know her from: Lord of the Rings books and movies
Portrayed by: Miranda Otto
Created by: J.R.R. Tolkien
Reasons she makes this list: After Aragorn, Eowyn is probably my favorite character from this most esteemed fantasy series. She refuses to be relegated to “woman’s work”, and wants the opportunity to stand and defend her people. When asked what she fears most, she answers, “A Cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.” She’s one tough chick, yet this grit never displaces her essential femininity. And when her king (and uncle) Theodon entrusts her with leading her people to shelter instead of fighting, she shoulders the responsibility and recognizes the different kind of valor contained in this charge.
Reasons she could be left off this list: None come to mind.
3. Buffy Summers
You know her from: Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series (we do not speak of the 1992 film version. Ever.)
Portrayed by: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Created by: Joss Whedon
Reasons she’s on this list: An otherwise average high schooler entrusted with great responsibility and granted extraordinary skill, courage, and strength to meet it, this is one girl who doesn’t need rescued by the boys – she rescues the boys. Buffy is loyal, protects those she loves and those who can’t protect themselves, thinks on her feet to tackle problems (sometimes literally), and is tender and kind when she isn’t kicking demon ass. She’s not the smartest, but she’s resourceful; she’s not the most popular girl in school, but she’s confident and knows who she is.
Reasons she could be left off this list: She can be a whiny brat on occasion. She can also be a bit naive – She falls for a the bad boy (Angel), though to her credit she’s the one to break the relationship off when it becomes destructive for both of them. She also gives in to the sensitive wiles of an upperclassman her freshman year of college and sleeps with him, only to learn the hard way he didn’t really care about her. She learns from it though, and doesn’t repeat the mistake. She also sometimes dresses to, uh, kill.
4. Katniss Everdeen
You know her from: The Hunger Games book (and soon to be movie) series
Portrayed by: The role hasn’t been cast yet.
Created by: Suzanne Collins
Reasons she’s on this list: She’s tough, resourceful, and strong while still showing mercy and kindness. By now you’re noticing a trend in this list – women and girls who are confident and capable without sacrificing their generosity or grace of spirit. Katniss displays this when she is forced into a horrible situation and fights her way out of it without losing her humanity in the process. She is brave and protects those it is in her power to defend.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: Confession – I’ve only read the first book in the series so far, so I can’t say if there is anything revealed in Katniss’ character in the final two books that makes her a less than ideal role model, but based on what I know nothing is likely to disqualify her.
5. Dora the Explorer
You know her from: Dora and Diego television cartoon series
Voiced by: Kathleen Herles and Caitlin Sanchez
Created by: Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh and Eric Weiner
Reasons she’s on this list: One of our favorite lines from Dora is when she explains that being a princess means being kind and brave and helping friends. She consistently sends the message that being friendly and loyal is more important than being pretty. She respects diversity and accepts everyone. Even when the sneaky fox Swiper repeatedly tries to sabotage her plans she doesn’t respond by fighting or being mean. She stands her ground and tells him no. She shows that it’s fun to try new things and she’s always up for an adventure.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: None.
6. Princess Leia
You know her from: Star Wars movie series
Portrayed by: Carrie Fisher
Created By: George Lucas
Reasons she’s on this list: She’s Princess freakin’ Leia. Really though, she’s the rare major movie action heroine who actually does something besides look good and swoon. She handles authority with class and dignity, standing her ground with confidence and making difficult decisions for the best of those following her. She is brave in the face of danger and competent at decidedly non-girly skills, such as piloting a speeder and picking off storm troopers with a blaster. She fights for good even when the odds are against her.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: She’s a bit cold and bossy early on in the series, but when your planet gets blown up in front of your eyes that’s probably understandable. My one major annoyance here is that when she finally let’s her hair down (literally) on Endor and becomes the classic pretty princess, her role in the action of the story is over. It seems like she’s allowed to be tough and brave or pretty and vulnerable, but not both at the same time.
7. Jo March
You know her from: Little Women book and movies
Portrayed by: Most notably Katherine Hepburn (1933) and Winona Ryder (1994)
Created by: Louisa May Alcott
Reasons she’s on this list: In a time when women were mostly expected to cook, smile at their husbands and push out babies, Jo stays true to her dream to write, and writes what she wants. Under the guidance of her liberal thinking mother (who could make another entry on this list) she grows up with the understanding that girls are just as valuable and capable as boys, and she acts on this confidence as an adult.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: She loses confidence some when she firsts starts publishing, using a male pen name and writing what she thinks publishers will accept rather than what really comes from her heart. This is a natural learning phase though, and is not really much of a discredit to her.
8. Meg Murry O’Keefe
You know her from: Most of the Kairos books by Madeleine’s L’engle, most notably the Time Quartet.
Portrayed by: N/A
Created by: Madeleine L’engle
Reasons she’s on this list: Initially Meg is the most unimpressive young woman on this list. She’s antisocial and rebellious, and she has very little self-confidence. What she has, however, is love and integrity. When her loved ones need her most, she adapts to the situation and discovers courage she didn’t know she had, courage that springs from a conviction of what is right and a hope that love will triumph over hate. She is probably the most approachable and relatable of the characters on this list. In An Acceptable Time, my favorite of L’engle’s young adult fantasies, Polly is an excellent role model for all of the same reasons.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: A stubborn streak a mile wide, though it does at times prove helpful to her.
9. Lyra Belacqua
You know her from: His Dark Materials book series (and the so-so movie of the first book, The Golden Compass.
Portrayed by: Dakota Blue Richards
Created By: Philip Pullman
Reasons she’s on this list: Wickedly resourceful, tougher than the boys in her life and brave as a bear, Lyra discovers and proves herself in the most difficult possible circumstances. Her coming of age story shows a girl who, growing up without a mother and under the harsh tutelage of her demanding father, learns the lessons of loyalty and mercy and trust in the hard knock world outside the walls of her childhood home.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: She’s stubborn, mischievous, not above bullying, and doesn’t always listen to advice even when wisdom is on its side. She’s always taken care of herself and it takes her time to learn to trust others.
10. Velma Dinkley
You know her from: Scooby-Doo television series and movies
Portrayed/voiced by: Linda Cardellini in the live action films, several different voice actors on the cartoons
Created by: Joe Ruby and Ken Spears
Reasons she’s on this list: Velma is whip-smart and has an encyclopedia for a brain, and she’s usually the one who ends up solving the mysteries for the Scooby Gang. She’s brave and operates well under pressure. She doesn’t let herself get intimidated by bad guys and never ignores a problem just becuase it will be difficult or dangerous to solve it.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: One of the things that could be taken as a positive thing – Velma is not very pretty or stylish and is somewhat pudgy, going against the grain of the conventional heroine - actually kind of bugs me, because the series seems to go out of its way to make it seem like you can be pretty or you can be smart, but you can’t be both. I like that Velma sends the message that looks aren’t everything, but do we need to perpetuate the stereotype that the brainy, bookish girls are the ones who aren’t pretty enough to be princesses?
11. Yu Shu Lien
You know her from: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon movie (yes, there were books first, but no one outside of China has read them)
Portrayed by: Michelle Yeoh
Created by: Wang Dulu
Reasons she’s on this list: She keeps her word and takes her responsibility very seriously. She has the gentleness and self-control that only come from true confidence and strength. She is one of the most skilled martial artists in the world, yet she only uses her fighting ability as a last resort. She always seeks to find compromise and common ground, and she solves problems through diplomacy and discussion whenever possible. Even though she knows young Jen (Ziyi Zhang) is a thief, she still seeks to mentor the girl and teach her integrity.
Reasons she could be kept off this list: Giving in to a problem for both men and women in her duty-bound culture in 19th century China, she is not comfortable expressing her emotions and speaking from her heart.
A few who didn’t make the cut -
Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill) – She kicks ass and is awesome to watch, but she operates solely on vengeance and seems to have little regard for human life. Not a tremendously good message to send.
Juno MacGuff (Juno) – One of the great characters of modern film, Juno gets herself into a bad situation but handles it with grace, poise, courage and humor. Ultimately left her off because the themes are somewhat vague until a girl reaches adolescence, and mine is three. Disagree?
Padme Amidala (Star Wars) – Easily my favorite character from the abominable prequels, she would make it on the list if it weren’t for her inability to say no to that whiny douchebag Anakin, either emotionally or physically.
River Tam (Firefly and Serenity) – Kicks total and complete ass. Is absolutely insane. They balance each other out.
Is it strange that Jo March is the only real world girl on the list? Why do we have to look to fantasy for examples of strong, confident women? I would love to hear some of your ideas for fictional women or girls who do not live in a fantasy world but set a great example of confidence and competence. I’m sure I know of some that I’ve not thinking of, but Jo was the only one who came readily to mind.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you’re a parent. If you have girls, what fictional characters would you consider good examples for them? If you have boys, what are you doing to help them to see girls as being just as capable as they are, when pop culture so often sends a different message?
Great post! I am about to return to work full time, while my husband stays at home with the children, and part of the reason for this is to be a positive role mole for our children. I don’t want my girls to grow up thinking that one day they will be at home looking after the kids – if that’s what they want, fine, but I want to show by example that they can be whatever they want to be.
As an aside, Dora is a great choice – my 2 year old loves her and can often be heard yelling “we did it!”
Role MODEL, as opposed to mole – oh dear!
I knew what you meant:) Thanks for reading and commenting. Keep on providing a great example to your girls. We need strong girls!
You’re a positive role model for your children because you work and your husband stays home? Doesn’t that make your husband a poor role model because he stays at home? Isn’t he showing them that it’s okay to stay at home and be dependent on your spouse? By your own reasoning he is a very poor role model for your children.
Your daughter is going to grow up so well-rounded, so self aware. She is very lucky to have you and your wife as parents.
I think Anne Shirley (of Anne of Green Gables, played by Megan Follows in the movie) deserves a mention. Orphaned as a baby, she spends the first 11 years of her life unloved and unwanted, until she’s adopted by Marilla & Matthew Cuthbert of Prince Edward Island. Her imagination, intelligence and determination earn her a place at Queens College, where her writing skills earn her a scholarship to Redmond. But she gives up her university dreams to stay at Green Gables and care for ailing Marilla after Matthew dies. I like her because she is human – stubborn and temper-prone and impetuous; but down-to-earth and fiercely loyal to those she loves. She could have succeeded anywhere at anything, yet in the end she chose the rural quiet of Green Gables.
And ironically (given your intro), 7-yr-old Sarah Crewe of “A Little Princess” would also get my vote, for her strength of character when circumstances take an almost unendurable turn for the worse – when most little girls would have crumbled.
Just my 2 cents.
Good suggestions. I haven’t read either, so I’ll have to keep those in mind. I thought about Jane Eyre also, but she ends up crawling back to that cranky old quasi-mysogynist Mr. Rochester.
Oh! Oh! I second charitylynne’s suggestions – both of them for sure!
Another two for the list to consider are Lizzy Bennett from Pride & Prejudice, and C. J. Cregg from West Wing. Fun exercise.
Elizabeth! Dang it, how did I not think of her? Grrr…
I always thought that Susan and Lucy were creations ahead of their time by Mr. Lewis. Warrior women but kind healers, as well.
Eowyn is dear to my heart. She’s a fictional character whose inner struggle to balance the desire to meet the needs of those who ask much of her with the fierce longing for a chance to prove there’s true valor in her blood has always resonated in me.
Someone mentioned Anne, and I certainly agree, but I love Emily even more. Mama got Shi and I a 3 disc set of serial episodes of a show made from the book(s) and it was so well done even the boys were drawn in. Emily (like Anne) struggles to channel her willfulness away from bratty lashing out – but learns, in ways that read very natural to the progression of a life, to deal with difficult people and a hard life by letting her creative mind loose on paper. Is a good read.
War and kicking ass is what we want to bring girls up to be? That’s funny because that is exactly what we have been telling boys, and there’s been a ton of criticism about that. But I guess you’re validating and vindicating the traditional male, macho, upbringing, since you’re advocating the same for girls. If you’re not beating someone up, then you’re not a good role model for girls? Well, okay. But what if the person being beat up is your own son or daughter? Would that make you think that perhaps there are other qualities that we should be teaching our children?
The role of fantasy is often to metaphorically illustrate issues of character. Too often girls are told to sit on the sidelines while the boys take action. These characters show that women can accomplish great things, overcome adversity, stand up for themselves, protect those they love, and match skills with the boys.
Pingback: Top Twenty Five Tuesday: Baffling Search Results that Have Led People to My Blog | The Screaming Kettle at Home
Late to this conversation, but had to see why you’d use a photo of Buffy. And since you brought up “Firefly”, I have to throw Zoe into the pot. She’s a warrior, but not insane like River. She’s smart, resourceful, brave, loyal to her captain and crew, but also models a great marriage with Wash.
Also, must agree with the Elizabeth Bennett suggestion. And for a younger girl, Scout Finch.
Love the Zoe suggestion. Not sure how I missed her. Scout is a good idea too.
Pingback: Good Lists. Read them. | Strange Figures
Annabeth Chase of Percy Jackson series could be a good role model too! She’s tough and smart yet compassionate. She’s the daughter of Athena too. I like this list very much though. And Hermione would be the perfect role model for girls! (she was my role model when I was young Ü)
Jane Eyre is very strong. Also i don’t know if you have read anything by Terry Pratchett, but i am completely in love with the Tiffany Aching series. Tiffany may live in another universe, but really she is pretty much a normal world girl. She doesn’t do flashy magic, she helps people, doesn’t freak out when things go bad, uses humor and common sense, reads the dictionary all the way through and stands up for what she believes in. These books filled with good old terry pratchett humor and have crazy characters like Nanny Ogg, and Miss Treason and of course Horrace the talking Cheese. Highly Highly Recommend. First on my list even before Harry Potter and i am a BIG potter head. First book in the Series is The Wee Free Men…
The girls in Avatar the last airbender are all SUPER amazing. Xena warrior princess, Mallory Grace in the spiderwich cronicles. The TV Show bones, Professor McGonagal, Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Mrs. Weasley. Lisbeth Salander
Im so happy there are so many nowadays.