Positive & Empowering Films, Books & Television Shows For Girls & Young Women

Positive & Empowering Films, Books & Television Shows For Girls & Young Women

Today’s youth is often influenced by what they see in the media, from the way a reality television star dresses to the way a famous actress styles her hair. While many of these influences from magazines, television shows, novels and movies can be negative, implying and stereotyping girls and young women to dress, look and act a certain way to be considered valuable or beautiful, there are some media sources that encourage women positively, relaying uplifting and inspirational morals and messages. Here is a list of films, television shows and books that are great examples for motivating and empowering women in positive ways.

Movies:

Cinderella:

This live-action film by Disney stars Lily James, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Madden and Cate Blanchett. This movie expresses a positive message of showing courage and kindness. Cinderella shows just that in many scenes but particularly when she tries to be kind to her stepmother and stepsisters even after they gradually force her into servitude after her father’s passing, ridicule her and bully her. 

Additionally, she chooses to be courageous when she still decides to go for her dreams after her stepfamily forbids her and sabotages her from doing so. She is kind and courageous in other scenes including when she tries to save the life of a stag being hunted and when she finally stands up to her stepmother to defend her birth mother’s honor. Even after all of that, she still chooses to be kind and courageous by forgiving her stepfamily for how they treated her as she moves on with her life towards the ending of the film.

Aquamarine:

This film stars Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, JoJo Levesque and Jake McDorman. It tells the story of a mermaid named Aquamarine who has to prove true love exists within three days in order to call off an arranged marriage. She seeks to do this with the help of two best friends named Claire and Hailey who if they succeed in helping Aquamarine, will receive a wish of their choosing. 

The characters of Claire and Hailey are two prime examples of how it is important to have loyalty towards those we care about. In the end, Hailey and Claire manage to help Aquamarine but in a different way than originally expected when they choose to make a huge sacrifice and thereby proving that true love can exist in other forms besides a romantic relationship. The story also reveals a powerful message in facing your fears when Claire overcomes her biggest fear in order to protect her friends. 

Soul Surfer: 

Based on the true story of professional surfer, Bethany Hamilton, this film stars Annasophia Robb, Carrie Underwood, Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. It conveys the powerful message that even when you have setbacks, you can still accomplish your dreams and inspire others to live theirs. When thirteen-year-old Bethany Hamilton decides to go surfing on Halloween day, she expects it to be like any other fun day of surfing. However, when a sudden emergency occurs that almost costs Bethany her life, she remains passionate and hopeful about still being able to live her dream of being a professional surfer. The story tells Bethany’s courageous comeback to continue surfing and inspires her to tell her story of how God continues to work through her life despite the obstacles she endures throughout her comeback to competitive surfing. 

Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story: 

This Lifetime Original Movie stars Poppy Montgomery, Antonio Cupo and Janet Kidder. It tells the story of how famous author, J.K. Rowling came from a life of domestic abuse and poverty to finding the inspiration to write one of the most successful book series in the world, Harry Potter. This message is inspirational because it lets viewers know that if you do what makes you happy, even in the hardest of times, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. It also relays the importance of being close to your family and being for them even when times are difficult as we see this in a young J.K. Rowling, played by Madison Desjarlais. 

The Princess Diaries & The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement:

This Disney film series starring Anne Hathaway, Heather Matarazzo, Julie Andrews and Caroline Goodall follows the story of a young lady named Mia Thermopolis Renaldi who eventually discovers that she is the princess of a country called Genovia.  Throughout the series we see how this clumsy, shy but goodhearted girl grows into a more confident, strong and empowering woman. She shows bravery when she accepts the title of being a princess, realizing that she has the power to help others and when she challenges outdated laws in the country so that she can be as inspiring and strong of a ruler as her grandmother, Queen Clarisse. Additionally, she shows, in the second film that it is just as important to be beautiful on the inside when she defends a young orphan girl being bullied during a parade celebration. Mia’s character is a great role model for little girls and young women, showing that while it’s nice to have pretty gowns and fancy tiaras, a true princess is a woman who follows her heart and shows kindness and charity to others. 

The Lizzie Mcguire Movie: 

This Disney film, starring Hilary Duff, Robert Carradine, Alex Borstein and Jake Thomas, follows the story of a girl named Lizzie Mcguire, who following a humiliating moment at her junior-high graduation, travels to Rome, Italy on a school-sponsored trip. There, she makes a wish in the Trevi Fountain for adventure, leading her on a whirlwind journey of impersonating a famous pop singer she looks similar to named Isabella Parigi.  Under the impression that she is helping Isabella, she learns from Italian pop star, Paolo Valisari that she will have to sing and dance at an awards ceremony, frightening her due to the idea of having to perform in front of an audience. 

Lizzie eventually agrees to it and learns all the lyrics and dance steps to perform the duet with Paolo but shortly before performing the duet, Lizzie meets Isabella and discovers that Paolo was using her the whole time to make Isabella look bad, in the hopes of ruining Isabella’s music career. Eventually in the end, Paolo’s scheme fails and the truth about him is revealed to the world. Isabella and Lizzie become friends and Lizzie conquers her fear of performing in front of an audience. While the message of conquering your fears is very powerful in this film, this movie is also inspirational because it conveys powerful messages of true friendship in the form of Lizzie and her best friend, Gordo who constantly comes to Lizzie’s aide throughout the film. 

Television Shows: 

Once Upon A Time: 

 This ABC television series stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parilla, Josh Dallas and Jennifer Morrison. The series first starts out with a young woman named Emma Swan, who shortly after her birth is taken away from her parents, Snow White and Prince Charming in the Enchanted Forest and sent to the real world. Growing up an orphan, she eventually becomes a bail bondsperson. On her 28^th birthday, she receives a knock on her apartment door only to find a young boy there named Henry who she gave up for adoption. Henry informs her that his hometown of Storybrooke, Maine is cursed by his adoptive mother, The Evil Queen and that it is Emma’s destiny as the savior to defeat the curse and bring back the memories of all the fairytale character’s past lives. 

This series is a great example of positivity because it conveys a variety of empowering messages including not judging people by their appearance, finding and accepting what makes you special and unique and the ever constant message throughout the series, which is to have hope and bravery even in the darkest of times and that even if you make mistakes and have a rough past, it does not define who you are. Even if you have made wrong decisions in your past based on bitterness, pain and anger, you can find redemption, happiness and forgiveness. You can turn your life around for the better. It also conveys a positive message that even when families have difficult times, they still manage to find a way to unite together for the greater cause and still will do anything to help and support one another. 

Supergirl:

This series first premiered on CBS before moving over to the CW Network. It stars Melissa Benoist, Calista Flockhart, Chyler Leigh and Jeremy Jordan. It tells the story of Kara Zor-El, an insecure woman who gradually becomes more confident, strong and powerful as she begins to use her special powers after thwarting off an unexpected disaster, thus becoming Supergirl. Supergirl is the embodiment of Women’s Empowerment, showing little girls and young women that they should embrace what makes them unique and different because that is where their very own superpowers are. 

Sailor Moon Crystal: 

This series can be watched online in Japanese with English subtitles via crunchyroll.com.  A remake from the original Sailor Moon series, this anime follows a clumsy, ditzy crybaby named Usagi Tsukino. While running late for school, Usagi has a brief encounter with a cat, removing a bandage on its forehead and revealing a crescent moon mark where the bandage was. Later that day, the cat, named Luna, confronts Usagi again and tells her that she is Sailor Moon, a chosen sailor soldier destined to protect the universe from wicked forces. Later on in the series, other sailor soldiers of their respective planets begin to appear to aide Sailor Moon in defending the universe from evil. 

The character of Sailor Moon is a positive example for women in the sense that while she may have her moments of being afraid, clumsy and a crybaby, she still manages to do what she must to protect those she loves. Her character grows throughout the series into a courageous, more confident and strong woman. Many of the other sailor soldiers can be seen as positive role models too including Sailor Mercury, who is very studious and intelligent. 

DC Superhero Girls:

This animated series can be viewed on YouTube. It focuses on many DC Comics characters and their journey towards growing up and dealing with how they handle their various superpowers. Some characters featured on the show include Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Katana, Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl and more. This series conveys positive messages regarding loyalty, friendship, leadership and teamwork.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic:

This animated series can be watched on Discovery Family. It follows the journey of Twilight Sparkle and her friends Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity on their quest to protect Equestria from evil forces by using their magical artifacts, the Elements of Harmony. This series has a multitude of positive messages involving themes such as friendship, kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty, forgiveness and more.

Books:

"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte:

"Jane Eyre" is a novel written by Charlotte Bronte. It focuses on a woman named Jane Eyre who becomes a governess to a French child named Adele. While employed as a governess, she eventually meets her employer, Mr. Rochester, whom she later falls in love with. This novel conveys many important themes including the value of friendship, forgiveness, being truthful, having loyalty and following your heart.

"Ever After: A Cinderella Story" by Wendy Loggia:

"Ever After: A Cinderella Story" by Wendy Loggia is a novel based on the major motion picture. It focuses on a young woman named Danielle De Barbarac, whom is forced into servitude by her stepmother after her father passes away. In an effort to save someone close to her, she impersonates a courtesan, which leads to her meeting the prince of France, whom she later falls in love with. This novel conveys multiple themes including the courage to follow your heart, being truthful, the importance of helping others, finding friendship in unexpected places and being yourself.

"Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton:

"Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton is the autobiography that inspired the film of the same name. It tells the story of how professional surfer Bethany Hamilton made her surfing comeback after surviving a life-changing incident at the age of thirteen. This story focuses on many empowering messages including having faith in yourself and having the courage to follow your dreams despite whatever obstacles you may face.

"A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett:

 "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a children's novel. It focuses on a young girl named Sara Crewe who is enrolled into a boarding school by her father, Captain Ralph Crewe. When her father passes away, Sara is forced into servitude and abused by the headmistress of the boarding school. 

During this, Sara befriends another servant girl, Becky and the neighbor to the boarding school, Ram Dass. Eventually, Sara comes into an unexpected fortune, restoring her to a life of wealth. This story contains many powerful messages including showing kindness, being charitable, the importance of friendship, standing up for yourself when mistreated and not judging others.

"Matilda" by Roald Dahl:

"Matilda" by Roald Dahl is a children's novel. It focuses on a young girl named Matilda Wormwood who is unappreciated by her family for being different. Matilda, who has a passion for learning and reading is eventually enrolled into school where she befriends her teacher, Miss Honey. Unfortunately, she makes an enemy of her school headmistress, Miss Trunchbull who has a dark past with Miss Honey. 

Eventually, Matilda discovers she has special abilities and reveals them to Miss Honey. Matilda uses her abilities to help Miss Honey and put an end to Miss Trunchbull's cruel acts towards her and the students of the school. This book is a great example of positive messages including embracing your differences, being yourself, helping others, the importance of friendship and the value of learning.

"Before You Meet Prince Charming" by Sarah Mally:

 "Before You Meet Prince Charming" is a guidebook. It is written by Sarah Mally. It conveys many important messages including being the best version of yourself that you can be, avoiding temptations, building the right relationships, developing strong connections with family and making positive choices in life.