People Told Us Their 25 Favorite Female Empowerment TV Scenes, And I'm Crying Feminist Tears

    "Smile."

    Hannah Marder
    by Hannah Marder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their favorite female empowerment scenes on TV. Here are some of the best!

    Note: Submissions have been edited for length/clarity.
    WARNING: Some submissions contain mentions of sexual assault.

    SPOILERS AHEAD!

    1. On Glee, when Mercedes sang “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”

    Fox

    "Everyone thought Rachel should be given the solo at Sectionals, but Mercedes brought the house down with her performance. She proved to everyone that she was just as good (in reality, better) than freaking Rachel Berry."

    —megana459810788

    2. On Sex Education, when all of Aimee's friends got on the bus with her after her sexual assault.

    Maeve tells Aimee it's just a stupid bus and they're all getting on with her, then they do
    Netflix / Via buzzfeed.com

    "I choke up every time I watch that scene."

    —caitlinm18

    3. On Once Upon a Time, when Emma gave advice to a pregnant Cinderella.

    Emma tells Cinderella that people will tell you who you are your whole life and you have to push back and tell them who you are, and that you have to change things yourself because there are no fairy godmothers
    ABC

    "When the world seems to tell me no, I try to carry that reminder with me — I get to choose who I will be."

    —zshepherd31

    4. On Jessica Jones, when Jessica told Trish she loved her, then killed Kilgrave.

    Kilgrave tells Jessica to say she loves him, so Jessica looks at Trish and says "I love you," then picks up Kilgrave by his neck and says "smile" before snapping it
    Netflix

    "Jessica Jones all around is such an empowering character with the way she handles her sexual assault and trauma. She’s not perfect, but she stays true to herself and doesn’t take anyone’s sh*t."

    —2000semokid

    5. On Handmaid's Tale, when all of the Handmaids refused to stone Janine.

    June drops her rock and says she's sorry to Aunt Lydia, then the other girls follow suit
    Hulu

    "It is such a powerful scene and the first significant collective act of the handmaids against the cruel and oppressive regime of Gilead."

    —faiths4e9a0e06d

    6. On Golden Girls, when Blanche stood up to her professor who asked for sexual favors in return for an A.

    Blanche says she's a lady and her self-worth is more important than passing his course, so he can kiss her A (while slamming her test on him)
    NBC

    —maximizethis1

    7. On Grey's Anatomy, when all the women in the hospital lined the hallway to escort a sexual assault survivor to surgery.

    ABC

    "This is one of those scenes that makes me proud to be a woman."

    —cassien47f66e128

    8. Also on Grey's Anatomy, when Cristina reminded Meredith of her worth.

    Cristina says that Derek is very dreamy, but he isn't the sun — she is
    ABC

    "A little corny? Yes. But Cristina’s quote from Grey’s Anatomy prior to her exit from the show reminded us all that just because you have a nice man in your life doesn’t mean he gets all the power. You have to be honest about your needs as well as making compromises. Thank you, Grey’s Anatomy writers, for this iconic and powerful line."

    —hawkeyefan0215

    9. On Parks and Recreation, when Ann told Leslie she'd won the race for city council.

    Ann tells Leslie the recount is over and they've called the race, and that she won by 21 votes
    NBC

    "I love everything about Ann and Leslie’s friendship, but I especially love that Ann got to tell Leslie she won. You can see how happy Ann is for her best friend when she tells her. It always makes me tear up! Women celebrating women and lifting each other up is where it’s at for me."

    —cperryrun

    10. On The Bold Type, when Jacqueline took the weights from Mia, revealing she'd been sexually assaulted.

    Freeform

    —tylerr46d0ea869

    11. On Brooklyn Nine-Nine, when Amy was jealous that Rosa was asked to be a captain in another town, and Rosa told her that they had to have each other's backs.

    Rosa tells Amy as the only two women in the precinct they need to have each other's backs. Amy is surprised, asking if Rosa has her back, and Rosa says she does.
    Fox

    —broadwayismymiddlename

    12. On How to Get Away with Murder/Scandal, when Annalise schooled the Supreme Court on racism.

    Annalise asks the court if the court really wants to live in an America where money is prized above humanity and criminality is confused with mental health, then says the 6th amendment was ratified in 1791 and all citizens should have rights
    ABC

    "She not only showed a racist and ignorant man his place, but also won the case. I'm still pissed Viola didn't win an Emmy for that scene alone."

    —s4bb472acb

    13. On The Crown, when Elizabeth discovered Churchill had been keeping his ailing health from her and put him in his place.

    Elizabeth says "I would like you to consider your response in light of the respect that my rank and my office deserve, not that which my age and gender might suggest."
    Netflix

    —intercept

    14. On Lost, when Sun wore a bikini to go in the water even though her controlling husband wouldn't approve.

    ABC

    "It symbolized her finding herself outside of her marriage. Jin was strict and would never let her be exposed like that."

    —madisonm434f84ac8

    15. On Scandal, when Fitz summoned Olivia and she told him he had to earn her.

    Olivia says she's not a toy he can play with when he's horny or lonely or bored, that she's not the girl the guy gets at the end of the movie. She's not a fantasy — if he wants her he has to earn her
    ABC

    "I was so happy for her for finally telling him off for treating her like an object."

    —emmaloveschocolate

    16. On Avatar: The Last Airbender, when Sokka didn’t believe the Kyoshi warriors were great fighters because they were all women, and then Suki proved him wrong while still reminding Sokka of her femininity.

    Sokka says he treated Suki like a girl when he should've treated her like a warrior, and Suki says she's both and kisses him on the cheek
    Nickelodeon

    —alysaurus688

    17. Also on Avatar: The Last Airbender, when Katara stood up to a waterbending master who refused to teach her because she was a woman.

    Nickelodeon

    "Despite losing the fight, she holds her own against a master, showing she's not going to back down from doing what was right and putting a man in his place."

    —biancanoelle

    18. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Buffy and Willow gave the Slayer power to every potential, and Buffy gave a speech about standing up.

    Buffy says from now on, every girl who could be a Slayer will, as we see young girls standing up for themselves
    The WB

    "This incredible dialogue played over images of young girls everywhere in a state of fear, then each one is given their power, and is just so ready to kick some ass. It never fails to make me cry feminist tears."

    —williamthebloody

    19. On Game of Thrones, when Daenarys killed the masters in Astapor and freed the slaves.

    HBO

    "It seems like Daenerys is going to trade a dragon for the Unsullied, and that she can't understand what the slave masters are saying since she uses an interpreter. But at the end, she reveals that is actually her native tongue so she understood everything that was being said the entire time, then kills the masters, keeps her dragon, and gets an army. It was jaw-dropping when that twist happened."

    —amandakelly89

    20. On Agent Carter, when Peggy said she knew her value.

    "I know my value. Anyone else's opinion doesn't really matter"
    ABC

    —carolinelee7185

    21. On The Fosters, when a guy in the STEAM group tried to insult Marianna and she wasn't having it.

    the guy asks why she's being such a bitch, and Marianna replies "Bitches get stuff done"
    Freeform

    —kevind4ac2ce8fe

    22. On Veronica Mars, when Veronica showed the court a video that incriminated corrupt police officers, and humiliated Sheriff Lamb.

    UPN

    "Her little wink-gun to him after the video just cements the awesomeness."

    —gaelicmaiden

    23. On Schitt's Creek, when Stevie sang "Maybe This Time."

    Pop!TV

    "The scene starts so beautifully, with Moira giving Stevie unexpected reassurance and validation, which leads into Emily Hampshire’s incredible performance as Stevie playing Sally Bowles. It’s a culmination of her character’s arc that season — she’s been questioning herself and her place in the world, so to see her have such confidence and joy in herself made me feel like I could do anything. It was the most uplifting, honest moment, and it gave me chills!"

    —mollyconnelley

    24. On Glee, when Beiste told his husband he was leaving him.

    His husband says "Who's going to love you now" and Beiste says "Me"
    Fox

    "Literal chills."

    —charlotteeeeeee

    25. And on The Magicians, when Margo talked about growing up as a woman, then unleashed the desert spirits on their oppressors.

    Margo says she's a king, not a princess, and that her father thought she was a bitch once she grew up and tried to be strong, smart, and pretty
    SyFy / Via buzzfeed.com

    "Margo figured out that the desert spirits actually help women, and the leaders of the town have been framing them as evil to control them. Summer Bishil's acting is out of this world, and she gives the most amazing speech about growing up female and powerful. And then she unleashes the spirits on the oppressors and it's BEAUTIFUL!"

    —margolehane44