I have to say, growing up there weren’t a lot of films made to empower girls. Whether it was Jennifer Love Hewitt playing a money-hungry con artist who used micro minidresses to get ahead, or Jessica Simpson washing a car in a string bikini, I now realize I was becoming conditioned to only expect this single-faceted role for women on the big screen. Here’s a list of 10 films that combat that stereotype and will make you say, “I am woman, hear me roar”:

1. "Joy."

This film features Jennifer Lawrence playing an uncompromising businesswoman who stands up for herself to defend her business and ideas. Based on the life of entrepreneur Joy Mangano, you can’t help but raise your fist in solidarity by the time the credits roll.

Choice quote: “Never speak, on my behalf, about my business, again.”

2. "Miss Representation."

This award-winning documentary focuses on the depiction of women in the media. Released in 2011, right after a decade of glamorizing spoiled heiresses, the film aims to lift the veil of sexism that affects girls before they even hit double digits.

Choice quote: “All of Hollywood is run on one assumption: That women will watch stories about men, but men won’t watch stories about women. It is a horrible indictment of our society if we assume that one half of our population is just not interested in the other half.”

3. "She's the Man."

A true icon from the mid-2000s, the comedy in this film doesn’t overshadow the battle of sexism Amanda Bynes’s character, Viola, is trying to overcome. A millennial classic, Viola’s tenacious antics are the makings of a legend.

Choice quote: "And when my eyes are closed, I see you for what you truly are, which is UG-LAY!"

4. "The Devil Wears Prada."

Let us bow down to the brilliance that is Meryl Streep. Her sharp role as Miranda Priestly, rumored to be based on Vogue's Anna Wintour, makes you realize the double standard of women in power positions. And by the end of the film, you notice Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy, the fumbled-turned-fabulous assistant to Priestly, finds strength in herself, courtesy of working under such a powerful executive.

Choice quote: "OK, she's tough, but if Miranda were a man no one would notice anything about her, except how great she is at her job."

5. "Legally Blonde."

Ah, the iconic Elle Woods. This is one film I come back to time and time again as an inspiration for determination. I admire Reese Witherspoons’s character, as failure is never an option — she will succeed and she will prove the dumb blonde theory wrong.

Choice quote: “I’ll show you how valuable Elle Woods can be.”

6. "The Diary of a Teenage Girl."

This is an indie coming-of-age story about a girl experiencing her sexuality for the first time. The story is so accessible, as the main character, Minnie, played by newcomer Bel Powley, true goes through all the honest, wondering emotions of a young girl of 15. Set in 1976 San Francisco, the culture is rich and the cast is even richer, featuring Alexander Skarsgard and Kristen Wiig.

Choice quote: "I always thought I wanted to be exactly like my mom. But she thinks she needs a man to be happy. I don't."

7. "An Education."

Another coming-of-age story, this Academy Award-nominated film stars Carey Mulligan as a 16-year-old schoolgirl from London, and Peter Sarsgaard, as an older man who pursues Mulligan’s character in a whirlwind, enlightening relationship. This was one of the first films that taught me about life, as I was nearly the same age as the main character when I first viewed it.

Choice quote: "I’m going to read what I want and think about what I want and listen to what I want. And I’m going to look at paintings and go to French films and talk to people who know lots about lots."

8. "From this Day Forward."

A relatively unknown, yet still celebrated documentary, "From This Day Forward" tells the story from the perspective of the director as she sees her father transition from a man to a woman. It depicts a different kind of strength, particularly from the director Sharon Shuttock’s mother, Marcia, as she provides unwavering support needed by her husband through his transition.

Choice quote: "Being transgender is like walking around silently crying, unless you have the opportunity to express yourself."

9. "Frame by Frame."

This documentary focuses on the work of Afghani photojournalists who fight to free expression in the press after years of oppression at the hands of the Taliban. The stories told by their subjects are heartbreaking, including one woman whose estranged husband took her child from her out of revenge. The scene is haunting, as while she is being interviewed, her daughter’s crib can still be seen within the frame.

Choice quote: “We…try to be the voice for people who can’t shout.”

10. "Hotell."

A Swedish film staring recent breakout star Alicia Vikander, "Hotell" follows Vikander’s character as she deals with the mental shock of a traumatic birth to a son with severe birth defects. It gives a glimpse into the mind of postpartum depression, and the steps Vikander’s character, Erika, has to take with others suffering from illness to overcome her circumstances. The last scene of her running through the hospital to her son gives a feeling of hope after watching her suffer from weeks of mental strain.

Choice quote: "I read about a woman who could choose her feelings in different situations. She described her inner self as a hotel.”