Keeping with our tradition, I went to see the new Star Wars movie with my boyfriend the other night. Before continuing, I have to give a personal shoutout to those adorable penguin birds that invaded everything on Luke's island. They are my new spirit animal.

The first scene was the much-anticipated continuation from the last scene in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". I leaned forward in my seat when Rey offered the lightsaber to Luke Skywalker, anticipating some dramatic reaction from Luke. When he threw it over his shoulder and sauntered away, the whole movie theatre gasped and then starting laughing.

After the movie, I started thinking about the strong women characters in the movie. There was such a strong sense of female empowerment from Vice Admiral Holdo, Rey, and Princess Leila that characterized the movie. Everyone thought Luke would take the lightsaber and save the galaxy once again. When Rey defiantly steps up to the challenge and takes a proactive role in attempting to prevent the First Order from taking control, she also steps in as a role model for young women in our society. In fact, Disney's decision to promote female empowerment seems to an ongoing theme throughout the new Star War movies.

In our eyes, Rey, who is also the main female character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens distinguishes herself further as a figure of women empowerment when she defeated Kylo Ren in the forest. Another Star Wars female character, Jyn Erso becomes such an empowering female character when she accomplishes feats with grace and without hesitation, takes the ultimate sacrifice for the "Resistance in Rogue One: a Star Wars Story" that were above and beyond what the male characters could accomplish.

When I look at Jyn and her father side by side, I am able to fully appreciate the personal sacrifice and contributions they both made to the Resistance. I enjoyed the father/daughter bond and teamwork highlighted throughout the Rogue One movie because it showed more of the female contribution to the Resistance than ever before.

Star Wars new female empowerment theme comes at the heels of the much renowned Wonder Woman movie where Gal Gadot made her debut as the all-powerful demi-god daughter of Zeus and Amazons. I don't know about you, but one of my favorite scenes of the movie was when viewers first saw the Amazons in their battle training gear, charging the practice field in all their glory. That particular scene made me think I could take on the world just like the Amazons.

These strong female characters who are taking over the main roles and accurately portraying the beautiful strength and skills that woman exhibit and embody everyday is positively changing how society sees women. I hope one day I can do my part in contributing to the growing female empowerment that is changing women's identities. Wonder Woman along with the growing number of female Star Wars fighters are successfully paving a way for the women in our society to start showing their true powers.