March is Women’s History Month and in honor of the occasion, I want to highlight some of my favorite female characters in the media. There is a wealth of fantastic heroines, now more than ever, so this was a tough list to compile. But each one of these characters is well-rounded, flawed and powerful in their own right. If anyone was looking for a reason to include more badass women in their stories, these are just some examples to look to.
Cristina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy has many interesting female characters but Cristina has always been my favorite of the bunch. Not only is she an incredibly smart surgeon, but she knows her worth. She has big goals and doesn’t let anyone prevent her from reaching them. Her dedication, particularly to her career is clear. This causes some tension in her relationships, but ultimately, she always chooses what is best for her. Throughout her relationship with Owen, she struggles with the fact that she doesn’t want to have kids. The scenarios that she envisions of a future where she puts aside her dreams solidify her decision to choose herself first. The way the show tackles Cristina’s career-driven nature shows the ups and downs of navigating the societal expectations that women deal with.
Another thing that I love about Cristina is that, despite her tough exterior, she has a soft side. This is especially evident in her friendship with Meredith. She supports Meredith through thick and thin. Despite having different perspectives on many things, Cristina reserves judgment and acts as a trusted source of advice. It’s no wonder her descriptions of Meredith as “her person” and “the sun” are some of the most well-known from the show.
Inej Ghafa, Six of Crows
Inej is a layered character. She is one of the six Crows, who make up a rag-tag heist crew in the city of Ketterdam. Her character has a dark past that informs the decisions she makes throughout the Six of Crows duology. She is stolen away by slavers at an early age and forced into prostitution at the Menagerie. This trauma drives her to fight for others like her, who have been abused by those in power. She uses her skills as a former acrobat to slip in and out of rooms, scale buildings and catch her enemies off-guard. Apart from her unique fighting style, Inej adds a calm strength to the crew that balances out the mix of personalities in the group. She’s level-headed and caring, while also having a fierce streak when she knows her loved ones are in danger. And through it all, she holds a strong commitment to her faith. Inej fights through adversity to make a name for herself without abandoning her morals. I also love Amita Suman’s portrayal of her in the TV adaptation.
Toph Beifong, Avatar the Last Airbender
Toph’s introduction in the second season of ATLA made an already great show even better. I think we can all be grateful that the creators changed her original design and made her into the stubborn girl we know and love. Her hot-headed nature puts her at odds with Aang and the crew when they first meet, but she quickly finds her place within the group dynamics. Toph is confident enough to pursue her earth-bending skills despite her parents’ attempts to hide her away from the world. She never views her blindness as a disadvantage. Instead, she uses it to hone her skills, tuning into the world around her. And her discovery of metal bending only adds to her already extensive skill set.
Jinx, Arcane
Not all female characters need to be shining stars of morality. I love complex, morally gray and sometimes even downright evil characters just as much as the sweet heroines. Jinx is one of those morally gray protagonists. Before taking on the name Jinx, she goes by the name Powder. But after she witnesses her parents’ death and thinks her sister, Vi, has abandoned her, she slowly spirals into madness. What I love about Jinx’s character is the duality between her moments of mania and those small moments when viewers get a glimpse of the hurt young girl behind the whole persona. Her character arc inspires equal parts sympathy and concern for how far down the rabbit hole she may fall. She makes you want to root for her and see her break free from her past.
Isabelle Lightwood, The Mortal Instruments
Isabelle Lightwood is another character whose duality I enjoy. On the surface, she’s a strong-willed fighter who hides any weaknesses from those around her. Though this description is accurate, she also lets in people like Clary and takes them under her wing. It would have been very easy to pit Isabelle and Clary against each other throughout the series, especially given their sometimes opposing personalities. Instead, they become an example of two strong female characters fighting with and for each other. The more Isabelle opens up in the later books, the more we see that she has her own fears and desires that she puts aside to prioritize the needs of her friends and family. Her and Simon’s relationship progression plays a big part in her breaking down her walls and finally allowing herself to be vulnerable. She proves that even the strongest of women have moments of weakness — and that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
