Women who shaped millennial feminists

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were in diapers when many millennials were introduced to them, but sooner than later, the Full House pair were everywhere. They had everything from a cascade of home videos to a clothing line. They were media moguls before they entered high school and inspired a legion of feminists to be the boss in their lives.

Millennials got to grow up during the Disney Renaissance, the era that is arguably their best when it comes to animation, but for the longest time, the leading ladies were still just doing the most for problematic men. That is until Mulan. Girl belted out “Reflection,” cut her hair, got in drag, and went to war to save her elderly father from having to serve. Oh, and she saved her country. If that’s not inspiring, what is?

TLC could have just sung some fun songs and called it a day, but instead, they used their platform to highlight real-life issues in a way that younger audiences could fully relate to.

Jennifer Love Hewitt was a mainstay in the ‘90s because of Party of Five and Can’t Hardly Wait and has remained one thanks to Ghost Whisperer and 9-1-1. However, the role that likely inspired millennial feminists most is Julie James from I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel because she wasn’t just the final girl who survived; she was the final girl that screamed, “Come and get me!” Face those fears head-on, right?

Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill walked so that Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour could run.

There wasn’t a role Christina Ricci played when she was a child star in the ‘90s that young fans did not flock to. Wednesday Addams is, of course, her most beloved and recognizable, which, rightfully so, but that’s not her only rebellious character that showcased the beauty of individuality. Let’s not forget Roberta in Now & Then or Kat in Casper.

Daytime TV was it for the longest time, and while plenty of amazing hosts filled a sick day home from school, none of them quite hit the way Oprah Winfrey did. Even those who didn’t want to get into media or journalism viewed Oprah as #GOALS because she was the queen of her domain. Nobody did it like her then, and nobody has done it quite like her since.

She explained it all, and so many wish she kept on explaining because adulthood is hard.

Living Single starred four amazing women who played characters illustrating the beauty of friendship, career goals, and independence.

By the mid-'90s, there was so much commercialism that pop culture started to feel overly processed, which is why so many leaned into the sort of anti-establishment ways of Fiona Apple’s raw energy.

Daria Morgendorffer as a character and Daria as a whole could be looked at as one of the most influential aspects of the ‘90s, especially to the youths who tuned into it on MTV. Not to mention Jane Lane, her BFF. Ironically, Daria and Jane would loathe being on a list like this, which makes them that much cooler.

There were girl groups before, and there have been and will continue to be many after, but the Spice Girls just hit differently because they came through with such a fervor for Girl Power that made them undeniable.

The Little Giants is a cherished kids’ sports movie that sits alongside the likes of The Sandlot and The Mighty Ducks, but what made it even more special to all the budding feminists out there was Becky "Icebox" O'Shea. The girl who just wanted to play football almost gave it all up for a boy but then realized she didn’t have to change herself for anyone. Since its 1994 release, girls nationwide have found themselves on the 50-yard line.  

Well, more specifically, the Pink and Yellow Rangers because, finally, girls in the ‘90s had their female superheroes to emulate.

Cher Horowitz clearly inspired fashion, but people also forget that Cher wasn’t just some rich girl with a masterpiece of a closet. She was also a girl on a mission to ensure that her grades aligned with what she deserved. Cher served up the life lesson of never settling for less than you deserve.

A League of Their Own is a home run as far as millennial feminists are concerned.

Sue Ellen Crandell starts as a typical teen in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, but by the end, highlights the importance of faking it till you make it.

Judy Blume has inspired baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z and will continue to move generations long after all of the aforementioned are long gone. That is because her books are evergreen, filled with stories and characters that never fail to connect with the heart of an elementary school reader.

Moesha Mitchell had goals that aren’t always highlighted on a teen show. She was goal orientated, and her education was very much highlighted throughout the series. One has to wonder how many were motivated by Moesha to study harder and apply to college.

The Baby-Sitters Club books are Scholastic Book Fair legends, and the 1995 movie is a cherished part of the millennial experience. Whether in print or on-screen, those characters gave way to several types of girls that people could relate to. On top of having that connection, The Baby-Sitters Club also presented a story of young entrepreneurship in the simplest but most attainable form: Babysitting with friends.

Women in sports are often overlooked, but a generation was motivated to make their presence known on the field, on the court, in the pool, and everywhere else when Brandi Chastain ripped off her top and exclaimed athletic excellence to the world.

“Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!” Isn’t that what life’s all about?