Princesses

We've all grown up with people saying that "every girl is a princess" and "every boy is a prince." When you are little and all you really want is for "The Princess Diaries" to be real and find out that you really are the princess of some random country, this makes you feel pretty good about yourself and very special.

My favorite Disney movie is Aladdin (and by default my favorite princess therefore is Jasmine). Honestly, I can't really tell you why. Maybe it's my favorite story, maybe it's because I feel like Jasmine is capable of something other than being saved, I honestly don't know. I do know that I'm a sucker for romantics and that I love Pride and Prejudice more than a normal person should. But I've also found that the female characters I like are the ones who take control of their own story:

- Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice is one of the only sane people in her story. She and Jane both have their flaws, but they have good heads on their shoulders and they know that they could take care of themselves. Because of that, they settle for nothing less than what is best for them.

- Jasmine from Aladdin knows that there is more to life than being married off to the wealthiest suitor who comes along. She runs away to seek her own adventure. While there are forces surrounding her that cause a lot of trouble for her, she holds her own as best as she knows how.

- Hermione from Harry Potter is just as much a reason that Voldemort was defeated as Harry was. She's the smart one, the logical one, the solid presence in Harry and Ron's lives that keeps them from having full-scale break downs. She endures just as much taunting and belittlement as they do and in many cases actually handles it better. She is smart, courageous, kind, and loyal - everything that you want in a friend.

- Leia from Star Wars is more than a princess, she is a warrior. She, like Hermione, isn't afraid to get her hands dirty for a cause that matters to her. She keeps the guys around her in check and is one steady reason that they don't become more cocky than their characters  already are.

These women, while fictional, are great role-models for girls. They are strong, loyal, kind, adventurous, courageous and when push-comes-to-shove, they can take care of themselves. They need their friends just as much as as people do in real life and they face similar challenges. They show you that having flaws doesn't make you weak - they provide you with another avenue to become strong.