International Women’s Day

Happy international women’s day! Today our sisters all over the world are celebrating our power and the way that we have proved ourselves time and again. So what better way to celebrate the accomplishments of real women than by looking at some lovely fandom ladies? I’m going to post about five girls, in no particular order, who slay, rise up, and look really good while doing it. Girls rule the world!

 

Eowyn (The Lord of the Rings)

When I said “girls who slay”, I literally meant, in Eowyn’s case, girls who slay. Eowyn is a shieldmaiden, a female warrior who has no fear of battle or death. The only thing she fears is obscurity, and once she wins glory for herself, (saving the whole world in the process), Eowyn is bulletproof. Fearless. Perfect. Though she was always that. She shows us a beautiful love story, both for the man she will marry and the world she seeks to defend. Eowyn is an amazing woman, and that’s why she’s on this list.

What makes Eowyn different: She’s a princess, but she doesn’t need anyone’s protection. She is headstrong, as well as physically strong.

What makes her a good role model: Eowyn teaches girls that no matter what circumstances they are in, they can find a way to fight out of it.

Inspiring Eowyn Quote: You are looking upon a woman. Eowyn am I, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.

 

Nina Rosario (In the Heights)

Nina is from “In the Heights”, a musical by Lin Manuel-Miranda about Hispanic immigrants living in Washington Heights. Nina is one of the first from their relatively poor neighborhood to make it to college – Stanford, one of the country’s best. Everyone expects amazing things from her, but now, she’s not sure if she can live up to their expectations. See, Nina has just dropped out of college, and she is having an identity crisis. There are too many reasons for this to list here, but suffice it to say she frankly doesn’t know what she wants or who she is. And then she falls in love. Benny, a man who works for her father, is able to help her, and with his aid and her own perseverance, Nina is healed and able to understand what she wants to achieve.

What makes Nina different: Nina is brilliant, smart, and capable, but she is also broken. She needs someone to help her see these things in herself so that she can use her many gifts to do something she will be proud of.

What makes her a good role model: Sometimes, people need to ask for help. Nina shows us that this is okay, that we don’t need to fill ourselves up with pride and assume “I don’t need a man”. As a woman, this is a great lesson.

Inspiring Nina Quote: “I feel like all my life I’ve tried to find the answer
Working harder, learning Spanish, learning all I can
I thought I might find the answers out at Stanford
But I’d stare out at the sea
Thinking, Where am I supposed to be?
So please don’t say you’re proud of me, when I’ve lost my way”

 

Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)

Luna is the perfect blend of wacky, unique, intelligent, and brave. She stands out because of the way she dresses, but also because of the way she treats people. Luna is kind to everyone, and sees their potential even when they don’t. Because of the weird aura that she gives off, people tend to stay away from her and find her strange, but Luna never lets anyone’s opinion affect her, instead continuing to be who she is and not care what anyone thinks of her. Give it up for this amazing girl!

What makes Luna different: Luna is easy to spot from a crowd. She’s a unique individual, and she lets that show in the way she dresses and in her personality.

What makes her a good role model: It’s so easy to conform to the standard and try to fill a mold. Luna teaches girls why you don’t have to do this to be beautiful inside and out.

Inspiring Luna Quote: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.”

Gwen (Merlin)

Gwen is kind and loving. She has a desire to protect everyone. She is the love interest of Prince Arthur, but unlike some portrayals of Guinevere, in “Merlin”, she has a real personality behind that. She may seem to fade into the background, but everyone is always able to rely on her in times of trouble, sadness, or just for a laugh when things are peaceful. Even when things get dark, Gwen keeps persisting, helping the wounded and setting things straight again. Her presence lights up a room, and no matter who you ship Arthur with, you cannot help but love Guinevere.

What makes Gwen different: She’s not a warrior, but she possesses a survivor’s spirit. She has a maternal instinct, even though we never actually get to see her as a mother.

What makes her a good role model: The roles of a mother and a wife are two of the most important roles a woman will ever have to play. Gwen teaches us how to excel at both.

Inspiring Gwen quotes: “I may be the Queen, but you don’t have to hide your secrets from me.”

Tenoh Haruka (Sailor Moon)

I have not watched all of either Sailor Moon anime, so all of this is based off of Haruka in the manga. Haruka, also known as Sailor Uranus, is one of the ten Sailor Senshei that protect the world. She is also the princess of Uranus. Haruka is sassy and headstrong, and she is also fierce, especially when protecting people that she loves. What’s really unique about Haruka, though, comes when you understand the time period Sailor Moon came out in. The show came out in the 90s, a time when women’s rights and LGBT rights were not hot button issues like they are now. Haruka stood for both. Additionally, all ten of the Sailor Senshei are fighters and warriors, while still remaining very feminine. (Haruka is maybe the exception to this as she is usually in disguise as a boy – though she does wear skirts sometimes.) This is inspiring, not only for little girls in the 90s, but for girls of all ages even today.

What makes Haruka different: Haruka can’t be labeled under any stereotype or classified by any trope. Instead, she created her own category. And she rocked it.

What makes her a good role model: Haruka teaches girls to fight for what they believe in, and she, along with the other Senshei, shows us the rawest, most perfect definition of girl power.

Inspiring Haruka Quote: “Maybe you misunderstood. A world without Haruka isn’t a world worth saving.” – Sailor Neptune

So who are your favorite fictional ladies? I wanted to do more, but I’m running out of time, and I need to get going for my day. So I’m putting it in your hands to give plenty more! Tell me who they are and why they’re inspiring to you, and I’ll feature several answers in a future post.

Get out there and rock it today, ladies!