My taste in television shows is vastly different from what I watched as a young kid, but looking back, these shows really introduced me to some positive role models. I’m grateful that representation has come along way in the years since, but I was lucky enough to be growing up at a time when feminist tv shows were becoming a reality. I still remember getting excited to watch my favorite female characters save the day every week! Since I was a child and a tween growing up in the early 2000s, there are some notable exceptions to this list of my favorite female television characters. I hadn’t watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Gilmore Girls yet; that was more of a post-2010 phase for me. Most of the characters listed here are pre-2008, and yes, we still had feminism then.
1. Kim Possible
Whenever I talk to my fellow girlfriends about their earliest memories of tv shows, Kim Possible (2002 – 2007) is always mentioned. Not only is it so awesome to have a tv show revolve around the daily life of a young woman, but even the show is named after her! At first, I couldn’t relate to Kim’s secret life as a badass spy. I mean, who could? Yet it was empowering to see a female character pulling off action moves that most boys couldn’t do. However, the other parts of her life were relatable: not feeling popular in school, dealing with friendship disagreements, having your first crush, etc. Kim struggled to stay true to herself, and this struggle was something I was experiencing in school too. There were so many aspects of Kim’s personality that I related to, but especially seeing her dress as a tomboy was important to me. At my school, dressing in baggy, boyish clothing was considered “not girly enough,” so to see Kim dress how she wanted to be made me feel seen. No matter what she wears, Kim Possible will always be a feminist hero!
2. Sam Manson
Sam “Samantha” Manson was one of the side characters starring in the cartoon tv show, Danny Phantom (2004 – 2007). Even though Sam wasn’t the main character, she played a very active role in the series. She was a loyal friend to Danny and helped him come to terms with using his new superpowers. Sam is often the voice of reason in the series, as she was mature and confident in herself. What really inspired me about Sam was that she wasn’t the typical pretty and popular female character. Sam dressed in goth clothes and her attitude was often pessimistic. However, she always had something smart to say and she always stood up for herself. Sam, along with the rest of her friend group, were outcasts and so was I in school. What makes Sam an inspiring feminist character is that she represents a type of girl on tv that wasn’t really represented up until that point, and Sam pushes the boundaries of what it means to be feminine. Even though Sam dates Danny at the end of the series, their relationship doesn’t feel forced. Sam is an independent woman, and her choice of guys doesn’t change that.
3. Katara
Now that Avatar the Last Airbender (2005 – 2008) is on Netflix, I am reminded of my love for Katara as a feminist character. She’s set on her goals, she’s loyal to her friends and family, and she’s willing to stand up for what is right. She was the first animated female character I watched who was so complex. Also, it was rare at the time I was watching animated tv shows to see a woman of color be represented. It’s only now that I realize how amazing and important that was. At the time I was watching, I just saw a girl being an awesome hero. Who cares what she looked like? What bothers me now is how every debate about this breakthrough tv show is concerning which male character Katara should have ended up with. Don’t get me wrong, Katara dating makes her no less of a feminist, but her relationships shouldn’t define her! I’d rather discuss her legendary water bending. Plus, who can forget the moment she called out sexism in the Northern Water Tribe?
4. Raven Baxter
There’s nothing more impressive than a sassy girl with psychic powers. That’s So Raven (2003 – 2007) doesn’t only still hold up because of its excellent humor, but because of its perfect casting choices. It’s incredible that a tv show was being produced that had white characters as the minority in the early 2000s – that’s even unbelievable by today’s standards! I loved Raven-Symoné’s quirky and charismatic character in the show, and I wished I was half as confident as her. What I appreciated most about Raven was that she was the main character of her show, and she was confident in her own skin. I was tired of seeing female characters depicted as having eating disorders and unrealistic body types. I felt that Raven encouraged a healthy body type, and her positivity really helped me while growing up. Also, while Raven was actively dating in the tv show, she demanded that boys treat her with respect. Raven had standards, and she only maintained healthy relationships in her life. If that’s not feminism, then I don’t know what is!
5. Alex Russo
I’ve written previously on why I love Alex Russo, but I’ll try to bring up some new reasons here. Similar to Sam Manson, Alex tested the boundaries of femininity and female stereotypes. Instead of wearing pink, speaking softly, and chasing after boys like a lot of female tv show characters at the time, Alex did the opposite. On the show, Wizards of Waverly Place (2007 – 2012), Alex became one of the most recognizable and quotable Disney Channel stars of her era. Her sarcastic wit and unpredictable personality made her unforgettable. Alex never apologized for being the smartest person in the room, and she always went after what she wanted. Alex was a welcome reprieve from the cookie-cutter female characters I was watching on television at the time. What’s the most remarkable aspect of Alex as a character is that she still holds up today!
6. Eliza Thornberry
The Wild Thornberrys (1998 – 2004) is a criminally underrated tv show, especially because the main character Eliza is one of the best and earliest examples of a well-rounded female character. Eliza Thornberry was everything I wanted to be as a young girl. She’s spunky, intelligent, and fun to be around. Also, she has amazing magical powers that allow her to talk with animals! Eliza is around the age of ten when the show starts, and I really appreciated that. In the early 2000s, most female characters on tv were either teenagers trying to act 30, or young girls with no realistic character traits. Similar to Eliza, I was a geek in school and was fairly smart for my age. So watching another smart, mature young girl on tv was a huge win for me! Also, when are we going to acknowledge that before S.T.E.M. was even a thing, Eliza Thornberry was out on adventures, learning to be a scientist? She was the blueprint for smart young girls interested in science and I loved it.
