The other day I was watching one of my favorite movies, "Reality Bites." It's about a group of recent college graduates who are trying to find their way in the world. Winona Ryder's character is making a documentary about this time in her and her friends' lives. When asked about it, she says it is about a generation of people who are trying to make it but have "no real role models" to guide the way.
This got me thinking. Do I have role models? Does my generation? If so, then who? After pondering this, I realized that I have the privilege of having dozens of inspiring people to look up to. It just so happened that I have been reading Anne Helen Petersen's "Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of Unruly Women" (which is the modern feminist critique of popular culture that we have all been waiting for) and realized that there are multitudes of inspiring, rule-breaking, creative, intelligent, empowered women out there. In fact, there are too many for a single list. This is the first installment in my series about women in all areas of popular culture who deserve our attention.
This particular list will focus on young women who are already leaders, activists, and glowing examples of what it means to be a young woman today.
1. Zendaya Coleman
Zendaya (21) began her career on Disney Channel but has become a producer, a fashion designer with a size-inclusive line, a singer, a dancer, a film star, and a an activist. She uses her large, diverse, and young social media following to promote everyday activism. She regularly posts about Black Lives Matter, feminism, self-love, and many other worthy causes.
2. Amandla Stenberg
You might know Amandla (19) as Rue from "The Hunger Games," but she is so much more. Amandla is an actress, author, singer, and model. Not only that, but she is one of the first people to come out as non-binary and pansexual in Hollywood. She, too, uses her influence to discuss representation, feminism, and other causes.
3. Malala Yousafzai
Malala (20) first came into the public's eye when she was shot for standing up for her right to education, but she has always been an activist. Before her shooting, she wrote a blog about the Taliban's occupation. After she recovered from her injuries, she started a non-profit for women's education and authored an international bestseller. She continues to be an advocate for women's education everywhere.
4. Rowan Blanchard
Rowan (16) is a Disney Channel sweetheart, activist, and singer. She is unafraid to speak about issues that matter to her like; gun violence, feminism, human rights, and LGBTQIA3 community. Not only that, Rowan identifies as queer, something that we have not seen many child actors identify as up until now.
5. Emma González
If you have watched the news about the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, you most certainly have seen Emma. She, alongside other students from her school, are refusing to be silenced. She gave a speech where she tells politicians who promise change but take money from the NRA that "We call BS." She spoke at and helped lead the largest student protest in American history, the March For Our Lives march.
6. Amariyanna "Mari" Copeny
Known as "Little Miss Flint," Mari came onto the national stage amidst the Flint water crisis (which is still happening by the way). Now 11, but has been speaking out for years now, Mari remains an activist in many ways. She is active on social media, organizes drives and fundraisers, raised enough money for 600+ kids to see "Black Panther," and she isn't stopping anytime soon.
7. Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber, and Gabby Douglas
Not only are these ladies phenomenal athletes and Olympic medalists, but were strong enough to speak out against their former team doctor, Larry Nassar, who had been molesting them (and around 250 other young women) since they were in their early teens. Their bravery sheds light on how sexual assault can happen to women in any position.
Pictured: Aly Raisman
8. Jasilyn Charger
Last year, then 19-year-old Lakota Sioux helped start the One Mind Youth Movement that began as a safe place for youth amidst a string of recent suicides. Once the Keystone XL pipeline threatened her tribe's water source, her group became more political. Activism, she believes, is the tool needed to teach native youths to survive the threats they face daily.
9. Yara Shahidi
You may know her as Zooey from "Black-ish" and "Grown-ish," but Yara is more than meets the eye. This 18-year-old was accepted to Harvard where she intends on studying social studies. At 14, she won an NAACP award for her acting and at 16 she signed to be a model for New York Women's Management to give women of color more representation.
10. Auli'i Cravalho
This actress and singer voices Moana, one of Disney's most recent princesses. Now 17, Auli'i, will continue her career on the new show "Rise" where she will provide some long overdue representation for people who are of Pacific Islander descent.
