When I was younger, I had an attraction to the science fiction and fantasy genre.

This genre's strong female characters acted based upon their own morality and self-worthiness without apologizing to those around them. Unlike most of the really popular kids’ media at the time, where if a girl was featured, she was just sort of hanging around.

The first time I watched "The X-Files," FBI Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) was the hero of my pre-adolescent heart.

She was complex and contradictory: a scientist and dedicated Catholic, capable of loving fiercely yet kept her emotions under wraps.

I learned a lot from her, and those lessons have stayed with me and many other women even well into my adult years — seeing isn't always believing, actions speak louder than words, the truth can cost you everything, you can find happiness where you least expect it and there are things in this world that defy logic.

All because young girls grew up seeing themselves represented in science fiction, Anderson’s portrayal of Scully inspired a generation of women to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields which coined the term, “The Scully Effect."

Recently, Anderson tweeted out a blast from Kate McKinnon’s Halloween past that shows why still to this day it is important for young girls to see themselves on screen.

She also included #thefutureisfemale, a slogan originated in 1972 to commemorate the first female bookstore in New York City which is now a phrase for women’s empowerment in the face of oppression.

I can't help but think of how this hashtag relates to the "Ghostbusters" reboot which has taken a lot of flack for putting hilarious women in the foreground. Just because it isn't for everyone doesn't mean it won't be everything for someone.

Not only are four women (Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig) featured in the Ghostbusters reboot; there are plenty of other women working on this movie — from associate producers to script supervisors to even stunt people.

No matter how we are highlighting strong women, all that matters is that we are empowering young girls to do great things and not let anyone, including themselves, hold them back.