The Greatest Fictional Feminist Icons
Samantha Jones
I go to sleep every night praying for balls as big as this lady. She does and says whatever she wants, regardless of how this makes others feel about her. She is a career driven person who never sacrifices having a personality for a paycheck. She enjoys sex and attention from men because she likes it, not because it defines her. She doesn’t bother with feigned innocence in order to be feminine. The best thing about Samantha is the way she always helps out her friends. She is the kind of woman who wants all her friends to be successful, she’s not in competition with them because she already loves herself.
Elle Woods
She is the beautiful, feminine girl who got her heart broken. Instead of wallowing and sending Warner pathetic drunk texts she pulls herself together, aces the LSAT, gets into law school and makes a name for herself based on her intelligence and persistence. She never sacrifices the person she knows she is for her career or her love interest. She is one of the strongest characters I’ve witnessed in her resolve to remain positive and kind in a professional atmosphere that tries to crush those qualities.
Ree Dolly
In Winter’s Bone she did everything scary and difficult for her family. Her dad’s gone and she doesn’t crumble, she takes his place. She gets the shit kicked out of her for it and keeps going. She is incredible.
Tess McGill
When I was growing up with a single mother I knew I wanted a career more than a husband. They seemed mutually exclusive because even as a kid I could tell that people usually see you as a woman or as a businessperson. Then I saw Working Girl. The way Tess tells Harrison Ford’s character, “I have a head for business and a bod for sin,” blew me away. I didn’t know you could own both those things? She works her way out of the typing pool! I am sobbing.
Bridget Jones
Bridget Jones is a mess. She reminds me of a girl I knew who used to have the mantra “I’m a mess, it’s who I am.” There’s a strength in acknowledging your shortcomings because we aren’t all blessed with grace and the ability to look put together everyday. It’s a struggle to keep up with all the flawless ladies I see in heels at the grocery store. Thanks for the #realtalk Bridget!
Kristy Thomas
Kristy was the founder and president of The Baby-Sitter’s Club. While I related more to some Claudia/Mary Ann amalgamation, I always admired Kristy for her entrepreneurial skills. Her dad walked out on her when she was a kid, which I think strengthened her and made her self reliant enough to know it’s not just boys who can be leaders and make money. She invented The Baby-Sitter’s Club and runs the club like the flawless HBIC she is. 
