The night is long and full of SPOILERS. If you haven't watched up to the season 6 finale of 'Game of Thrones' I advise you to stop reading here because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone.

Although feminism has undoubtedly been around for thousands of years, the modern American feminist movement began gaining major popularity in the 1960s and 70s and has remained popular to this day. For those who don't know, Merriam-Webster defines feminism as, "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes," but in a world where men are consistently seen as more powerful than women, who do we have it look up to? 'Game of Thrones' is a male-dominated show but are the starring men truly more powerful than the women? I'm here to explain why ladies like Cersi Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and many others teach you to be proud of yourself and get what you want.

I'm going to start with the woman who fills my heart with love and joy, Daenerys Targaryen. In the books, her power-hungry brother marries her to some buff horselord when she's 13 because he wants an army. Her story truly begins when her husband dies and she throws herself on his funeral pyre where she is reborn with three baby dragons by her side. Skipping a bunch of details, her dragons grow up, she frees all the slaves of Essos, builds an army, and decides to take back what is rightfully hers. During all this she stays proud of herself and destroys all the men who think they can control her. Dany lost a lot along the way but she always picked herself back up. She shows you how to be goal-driven and strong, no matter who is against you.

'Game of Thrones' has a popular religion called "The Faith of the Seven" in which there are seven different gods/goddesses who represent different things. "The Mother" represents mercy, peace, fertility, and childbirth. Although Cersi Lannister is one of the most dedicated and loving mothers in the show, there isn't a shred of mercy or peace in her body. She was difficult to love but in season 6 she really captured my heart. Cersi had lost two of her three children, was publicly humiliated by a religious fanatic, and had all the odds against her but nothing could stop her. She blew up the Great Sept of Baelor killing hundreds of innocent citizens, most of house Tyrell, and the High Sparrow who disgraced her just because she thought it would feel good. Cersi knows just how cut-throat she is and nothing could make her ashamed of it. She teaches you to always be confident, to get what you want, and to do things because they feel good (but I certainly wouldn't advise blowing up a church).

Besides these two, there are a handful of other women who have made an impact. Arya Stark watched her father die and then traveled across the world just to learn how to fight and kill all the people who crossed her. She doesn't forgive and she definitely doesn't forget. Sansa Stark also watched her father die, was beaten and raped, and then gathered an army to take back her family home. She let her monster of a husband be eaten alive by his own dogs and walked away smiling. She's beautiful but don't let that deceive you. Brienne of Tarth was the first woman to ever be in a Kingsguard and turned down the "ideal" life of a highborn lady because she didn't think it would suit her. She has consistently been one of my favorite BAMFs in all of television.

As much as I love these ladies I would like to give a round of applause to the men supporting them. Without men like Tyrion and Jon, who support their queens or their sisters despite the crazy plans they have, nothing would ever get done. Cersi and Dany and Sansa might never swing a sword but they all certainly have ways of getting things done. And for the more aggressive girls like Arya and Brienne, someone has to put boys in their place. Go into the world and get what you want.

Fire and Blood.