When I was growing up, little girls my age had a mixture of female symbols of both positive and negative representation. On the one hand, my childhood saw the rise of women like the Kardashians. On the other hand, I also grew up with the beginning of the still-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Nowadays, girls have a multitude of female superheroes to look up to with pride. I believe Captain Marvel serves as a great symbol for little girls everywhere because her journey proves that women can conquer their achievements despite any struggles standing in the way.

For starters, this particular heroine is constantly told by everyone around her that she needs to control her emotions in order to succeed. Unfortunately, it is this kind of advice that has held some women back from speaking out about their basic human rights. However, Captain Marvel perseveres not by diminishing her emotions, but rather using what she feels to fuel her strength and protect the good of others.

Another reason Captain Marvel functions well as a female superhero is that she fully trusts her instincts. Telling someone to "trust their gut" is so easy, but the reality of actually doing that is more complex than most may think. She never cowers away when her supposed colleagues attempt to commit injustice. Instead, she thinks and acts for herself in order to do what is right, and with all the chaos going on in the world today, young girls need an understanding of that more than they know.

Captain Marvel is not a flawless figure; she struggles with her memory and discovering who she truly is just like anybody. This adds a real sense to her symbolism as a model for girls to admire. While a fictional female superhero does not eradicate the issues that women still face today, what this heroine represents for girls growing up is the kind of genuine strength that women will need to acquire their rights.