The roaring 2020s are almost upon us and while we're all hoping for the gorgeous styles of the past to return so we can get our Gatsby on, it's a great time to look back on the past decade. Fiction has changed more in the last ten years than perhaps any of us were expecting it too, and while big splashes are being made on the big screen, the little screen has had its own shake-ups too, namely with the popularization of streaming services.
One constant of the past decade has been the breaking of the glass ceiling in terms of development toward female characters: there have always been women in media but in recent years there has been a real effort to give us women who genuinely feel real, and many of them have become symbols of empowerment for women everywhere. Below, we recall ten women who empowered us in the last ten years.
Daenerys Targaryen: Game of Thrones
The Mother of Dragons became an emblem of inspiration for women during the course of Game of Thrones’ run: she was a survivor who saved many lives and wanted what she thought was best for her people.
Although the series ultimately gave her Heel-Face Turn and turned her into a villain that was killed by her love interest Jon Snow, the lackluster ending for Daenerys doesn't change the fact that her character inspired and shaped not only women but people everywhere.
Jemma Simmons: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Jemma's development during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D's run is some of the best in the show. Jemma is a proud woman in STEM who owns her intellect (and two PhDs) who starts off as a people-pleaser to seek approval but grows out of her shell and starts doing what she thinks is best or what makes her happy without caring what anyone thinks.
Jemma's passion for science, her dedication to her career, and her desire to eventually settle down in a quiet cottage with her husband Fitz and have a family are treated with the respect it deserves: Jemma Simmons is allowed to be both strong and loving, a career woman and a wife — and that's powerful.
Kat Edison: The Bold Type
As the head of the social media department, Kat shows endless creativity and honesty in The Bold Type and is a self-assured and passionate millennial woman.
Kat's journey is that of self-discovery and growth: she is constantly exploring and finding pride in her identity, learns to be honest about her own emotional health and runs for councilman — even though she loses the campaign, Kat learns to use her own position at Scarlet to make a difference.
Thirteenth Doctor: Doctor Who
In a groundbreaking moment, Doctor Who cast Jodie Whittaker to take over the titular role after Peter Capaldi left, marking her the first woman to portray the Doctor in canon.
It's a rarity for women to play a character as morally complex, eccentric, and ancient as the Doctor, and Jodie manages every script she's given gracefully, giving us a hopeful Doctor to herald in a new era of the series.
Korra: Legend of Korra
Korra began as a sometimes overconfident, brash young woman with authority problems. She endured a lot of tragedies, constantly had her identity challenged, and had her spirits broken.
Korra is truly an inspiration, following the devastating season three finale, Korra obviously has PTSD and struggles with entering the Avatar State again. She leaves everything behind for three years and comes back as a wise, patient, and spiritual Avatar.
Kara Danvers: Supergirl
Kara struggles throughout the series with the trauma of losing everything. She thinks in order to be a hero, to inspire people, can't waver or be vulnerable. Sometimes she's angry, scared, and sometimes she feels broken.
Kara is beaten down time and again, but she never stays down for long. She doesn't give up, she finds the courage to be vulnerable, she allows herself to love, she stands for hope, help, and compassion for all: for that, she'll always be an inspiration.
Joan Watson: Elementary
Portrayed by Lucy Liu with an air of grace and self-assurance, Joan was a surgeon turned sober companion (this is how she met Sherlock) and then a detective.
Joan is empowering for us because of how she is willing to drop one dream to chase another. Once she realizes being a detective is something she wants to do, Joan dedicates herself. Finding a story that still allows women over thirty to figure out their lives is rare, and we're glad that Elementary gave Joan the space to do so.
Iris West-Allen: The Flash
Iris West is the heart of The Flash — she's the reason Barry has constantly found the strength to keep running. But more than that, Iris is empowering all by herself. Even in a world full of superheroes, Iris never lets her lack of powers hold her back: she runs headlong into danger when she needs to, and leads Team Flash impeccably.
Iris has lost an awful amount over the years: Eddie, Barry (several times), her mother, even her own daughter. Despite each of these tragedies, Iris never gives up. Outside of S.T.A.R Labs, Iris breaks away and starts her own newspaper, and is constantly taking leaps and bounds in her career as a journalist.
Hera Syndulla: Star Wars Rebels
Gentle, hopeful, and rebellious are a few words to describe Hera from Star Wars Rebels. She's compassionate, generous, and never gives up hope that tomorrow will be better.
Hera makes our list because of how she never loses her light in the wake of setbacks or tragedy. Hera is one of the best pilots in the Star Wars universe, and she is a true leader. She even raises her son, Jacen, alone while helping lead the Rebellion.
Isabelle Lightwood: Shadowhunters
Isabelle is a rare kind of female character. She's allowed to be feminine, kick-butt, be intelligent, fall in love, and struggle with her own demons — all without being shamed by other characters or the writing itself.
Isabelle is a loyal friend and an amazing sister who pushes her brother Alec to go after what he truly wants in life, and she constantly supports the people around her. Isabelle is wonderful because of how complex she's allowed to be, and how she's never restricted to one character archetype.