TV Women Characters From The 90s and 2000s That Are The Epitome Of Girl Power
These female characters taught young girls that they can be who they want to be
Parents are the first teachers to empower their children, especially young girls. Television is one of the main tools for allowing their daughters to watch shows.
The 1990s and 2000s saw the rise of female-centered characters on television. While there were the likes of Charlie’s Angels and Wonder Woman in the 1970s and the Golden Girls and Captain Janeway of Star Trek in the 1980s, it was in the 1990s and 2000s that television catered to female characters, who became icons of empowerment.
Check out some of the characters we grew to love for being bold, feisty, and kick-ass.
Dana Scully of X-Files
NBI special agent and forensic pathologist Dana Scully is a character played by actress Gillian Anderson (who is an empowered woman herself). What makes Scully a kick-ass character is not because she carries a gun, but her work as a pathologist as she checks and verifies the cause of mysterious deaths in the cases she and her partner, Fox Mulder, handle.
Scully has seen her fair share of challenges, including a kidnapping incident and the death of her sister. But her ability to be cool and collective against Mulder’s aggressive attitude is what makes her admirable. Scully showed that women can excel in their field, especially in the world of STEM.
Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Summers played by Sarah Michelle Gellar is the vampire slayer every woman wants to be. Armed with backflips and cartwheels that help fight demons and vampires along with some tools, Buffy showed girls that there are no limitations when people try to label you as a blond woman and nothing else. And it also helps that she has friends like Cordelia and Willow by her side to help the team.
Xena, Warrior Princess
If young boys had Hercules to watch on TV, the girls had Xena, Warrior Princess. Portrayed by Lucy Lawless, Xena is a warrior who wants to redeem her past mistakes by defending those people from injustice. She is accompanied by her companion Gabrielle, who becomes her comrade-in-arms.
Halliwell Sisters, Charmed
While some say the movie The Craft started their fascination with magic in the 90s, it was the Halliwell sisters that had everyone spellbound on television. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Hailliwell, portrayed by Shannon Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano, became known as the most powerful witches or Charmed Ones. Following Prue’s death in the show, Piper and Phoebe discover that they have a long lost sister named Paige (Rose McGowan), who was hidden by their mother and her whitelighter for fear from the elders. Paige joins Piper and Phoebe as they vanquish demons and warlocks on the show. More than magic, the girls also learned martial arts in the case of Prue and Phoebe.
A reboot of the series was made in 2018 starring a different cast but only lasted 4 seasons.
Sydney Fox, Relic Hunter
Relic Hunter was a television show broadcast from 1999 to 2002. It follows the adventures of History professor and archaeologist Sydney Fox (Tia Carrere), who journeys to different countries in search of artifacts to return to their owners and descendants. The show often features Sydney battling hunters who are looking for the artifacts for monetary gain.
The Sang’gres, Encantadia
GMA’s fantaserye Encantadia was first broadcast in 2005. It tells the story of sisters Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya, who were entrusted by their mother Minea with the jewel elements of fire, air, water, and earth. The episode also shows how jealousy can ignite a war when Pirena goes against her sisters and accuses Minea of always favoring Amihan.
More than being keepers of the elements, the sang’gres (princesses or noble women), Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya are also skilled warriors who lead the fight against their enemies.
In 2016, GMA made a retelling of the story. A new show called Encantadia: Sang’gre is scheduled to air soon.
Darna
Before Jane de Leon wore Darna’s costume, Angel Locsin and Marian Rivera wore the red outfit on GMA. Darna has been an icon since it was first created by Mars Ravelo and various actresses have played through different eras.
Super Twins
Super Twins is a fantaserye show from 2007 aired on GMA. It tells the story of sisters Sha-sha and Tin-tin who turn into Super S and T when they kiss their metallic rings forged from St. Elmo’s fire.
Thankful for these characters
Thanks to these characters, more women roles on television have emerged and became role models for many young girls. By writing roles for women, girls watching television will see themselves and be inspired that they too can be like them.
More inspirational stories for girls
Filipino Women in STEM That Our Daughters Can Look Up To
Empowered Filipinas We Want Our Little Girls to Grow Up Like
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