Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 1997-2003
The Halliwell Sisters (Charmed): 1998-2006
When I was in college and my early twenties, kickass women were the norm on television. While they all had their faults, and yes, sometimes had cheesy romances, they fought for the greater good and weren't afraid to get their hands dirty or have a few punches thrown their way. They were smart, strong, vibrant women who were role models for an entire generation.
And then, they disappeared.
For the past decade, there has a been a void in the realm of female "superheroes" for all people to look up to. Fans have been clamoring for a Wonder Woman movie, or a Black Widow movie, only to be told, essentially, that female action heroes don't sell tickets. But a third reboot of Spiderman, or a second reboot of The Hulk or Superman, or another Avengers movie? No problem.
I'm not saying anything against those movies; I know they have a very avid fan base, but representation is important.
All women have a right to see themselves on the small and large screen. In all aspects, including superheroes. To say that those stories aren't important or worthwhile is to say women aren't important.
Which is why I'm glad, on the small screen at least, we're starting to see those stories again. Sleepy Hollow, Agent Carter, Once Upon a Time, and the new Supergirl series are intelligent, fun, popular shows with strong female leads. I would love to see those shows, or new shows, branch out to include more women of color (Sleepy Hollow is leading the way on this!) or LGBTQIA characters, to break the white privilege that is evident. But it's a start.
Women are superheroes every day. It's time to end here the all-boys superhero club.
**Note: Obviously, I'm talking strictly about shows with an action hero/superhero basis to them. There are a lot of other shows out there with tough, smart, and fabulous women leads!
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