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4 EXAMPLES OF GIRL POWER IN THE MEDIA

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Re‑imagining the Narrative: Four Ways the Media is Celebrating Girl Power

When Her Campus asked its readers to pinpoint the moments that have most clearly displayed “girl power” in contemporary entertainment, the answer wasn’t confined to a single genre or medium. Instead, the writers mapped out a spectrum that ranged from superhero blockbusters to indie dramas, from television series to animated adventures. Their four highlighted examples—Wonder Woman (2017), Hidden Figures (2016), the anime Sailor Moon, and the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit—illustrate the increasingly diverse ways that female protagonists are shaping the cultural conversation.


1. Wonder Woman (2017): A Modern-Day Icon

The first example the article points to is the 2017 film Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot. As the first major superhero movie to feature a woman in the lead role, the film broke ground on multiple fronts. It was not only a commercial success—grossing over $822 million worldwide—but also a cultural milestone that re‑affirmed the value of female heroes in mainstream cinema.

Jenkins’s direction emphasized Wonder Woman’s moral compass and her refusal to rely on male saviors, a narrative choice that resonated with feminist scholars. The film’s tagline, “When all is said, the most powerful thing on earth is a kind heart,” echoed the message that female strength is rooted in empathy and integrity, not just physical prowess. According to a New York Times analysis referenced in the article, the movie’s positive portrayal of a woman in a traditionally male-dominated genre contributed to a shift in Hollywood’s perception of female audience demographics. The article also linked to the IndieWire review that highlighted how Wonder Woman re‑imagined the origin story, setting a new precedent for subsequent DC releases.


2. Hidden Figures (2016): History’s Unsung Heroes

The second case study is Hidden Figures, a 2016 biographical drama that chronicles the lives of three African‑American mathematicians—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who worked at NASA during the Space Race. The film, based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly, received critical acclaim for shedding light on a largely forgotten segment of American history.

Her Campus notes that Hidden Figures stands out as a “girl power” example because it showcases women who wielded influence through intellectual rather than martial means. In the story, the protagonists use their mathematical skills to solve problems that ultimately help launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The film’s success—earning over $250 million worldwide and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture—underscored the public’s appetite for narratives that celebrate women’s contributions to science and technology. The article included a link to a BBC News feature on the film’s real‑life impact, revealing that the story has been integrated into school curricula across the United States to inspire young girls in STEM fields.


3. Sailor Moon (1990‑present): A Trailblazing Anime

While the first two examples come from Western cinema, Her Campus deliberately broadened the scope by turning to Japanese animation. Sailor Moon, created by Naoko Takeuchi, first aired in 1992 and has since become a global phenomenon. The series follows Usagi Tsukino, a teenage girl who transforms into Sailor Moon and leads a team of Sailor Guardians, each representing a different celestial body.

What makes Sailor Moon a potent example of girl power is its blending of empowerment with relatability. The protagonists are shown to possess formidable combat skills, but they also navigate everyday teenage life, relationships, and emotional vulnerability. The series’ popularity spawned a vast merchandise empire and inspired countless fan conventions worldwide. The article linked to a The Atlantic essay that traced the show’s influence on the "magical girl" subgenre and highlighted how the series broke barriers for female protagonists in an industry often dominated by male narratives.


4. The Queen’s Gambit (2020): Mastery on the Chessboard

The final illustration the article offers comes from the 2020 Netflix miniseries The Queen’s Gambit, starring Anya Taylor‑Johnson as the prodigious chess player Beth Harmon. The series, adapted from Walter Tevis’s 1983 novel, showcases a young woman who overcomes personal trauma to dominate the male‑centric world of competitive chess.

The show’s acclaim—including several Emmy wins—stemmed partly from its authentic depiction of a female protagonist who masters a skill traditionally reserved for men. The Queen’s Gambit also sparked a measurable uptick in interest in chess worldwide, as reported by The Guardian (the article cites a link to that piece). The series thus demonstrates that girl power can manifest through intellectual prowess and strategic thinking, broadening the spectrum of what it means to be “empowered.”


Why These Four Matter

Her Campus’s selection of Wonder Woman, Hidden Figures, Sailor Moon, and The Queen’s Gambit offers a cross‑sectional view of how media can empower women in different ways. Each work not only features a female protagonist who defies expectations but also encourages audiences to rethink gendered assumptions about leadership, intellect, and courage. The article further emphasizes that representation matters: studies in gender studies suggest that seeing oneself reflected positively in popular culture can influence personal aspirations and self‑efficacy.

In a society still grappling with gender disparities—whether in boardrooms, classrooms, or board‑rooms—the media’s evolving portrayal of women offers both inspiration and a roadmap for future generations. By celebrating these four examples, Her Campus invites readers to recognize the strides made and to continue advocating for stories that lift all voices.


Key Takeaways

  • Wonder Woman paved the way for female-led superhero films, proving that female characters can drive box‑office success.
  • Hidden Figures highlighted the overlooked contributions of women in science, reinforcing the narrative that intellect is a powerful tool for change.
  • Sailor Moon showed that girl power can coexist with vulnerability, making the empowering journey relatable to a global audience.
  • The Queen’s Gambit demonstrated that mastery in any field, including competitive chess, is attainable and compelling when showcased through a female lens.

With these examples as touchstones, the conversation around girl power in media continues to expand, encouraging creators to tell more nuanced, diverse, and uplifting stories for women and girls everywhere.


Read the Full Her Campus Article at:
[ https://www.hercampus.com/school/wisconsin/4-examples-of-girl-power-in-the-media/ ]