4 Documentaries about Female Heroes to Inspire Your Daughter

In those pesky tween and teen years, it’s easy to get down in the dumps over trivial matters. Pimples, unrequited love, and frenemies are top headlines – or FB/ Twitter/ Snapchat/ Instagram posts. But what about the real issues? Get these docs streaming and you’ll be able to open up some big topics, beyond her daily drama.

Girl Rising

2013, PG-13

Your daughter may take for granted that it’s an act of heroism for many girls around the world simply to go to school. This documentary takes a look at the struggles which nine schoolgirls face in different parts of the globe just to get a basic education.

The format of this documentary is unique: The story of each girl is written up by a well-known woman writer from the same country, then the scripts are performed by well-known actresses like Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. These stories are powerful and look at the struggles that girls go through just to achieve basic human rights.

Great viewing for teens and tweens with some emotionally hard topics that make for wonderful discussion – and instill a bit of gratitude!

The Lucy Lawless Warrior Women Series

2003, NR

This five-part documentary series commissioned by the Discovery Network is hosted by the indomitable Lucy Lawless (whom many Gen-Xers remember fondly as Xena, the Warrior Princess!), with the aim to tell the stories of real-life women warriors throughout the ages.

This series includes sections on:

• Joan of Arc, who led an army of 10,000 soldiers against the English to restore Charles VII to his throne.
• Grace O’Malley, the daughter of a famed Irish pirate who followed in her father’s footsteps and took to piracy herself.
• Lozen, an Apache priestess and warrior who fought alongside her brother, the equally famous warrior, Victorio.
• Wang Cong’er. Believed to the basis for the myth of Mulan, Cong’er led 60,000 men to battle against the corrupt and power-hungry Qing dynasty – and defeated them.
• Boudica, a queen in ancient Britain who took up arms against the Romans as they began to conquer the country, and was known for her fierceness in battle.

He Named Me Malala

2015, PG-13

This film focuses on a girl who has been an inspiration to just about everybody around the world.

This 2015 documentary stars Malala Yousafazai, the Afghani teenager who is an outspoken advocate for girls’ education – and who was shot in the head by the Taliban as a result. Malala survived and has gone on to become an international star and spokeswoman for education for women, even speaking at the U.N. on this issue. The documentary depicts this youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize as profoundly intelligent and yet very human (and very much a child).

This film can be emotionally difficult, but it’s excellently done and portrays a young female hero that girls from all walks of life will celebrate.

Heroes: The Story of the FIFA Women’s World Cup

2015, Unrated

Many female heroes have been made on soccer fields all around the world. This sport is only increasing in popularity – and is giving many amazing female athletes a chance to show off their skills on an international stage, such as the FIFA Cup.

This documentary is suspenseful, beginning on the eve before the World Cup itself, when tensions and excitement are running high on the USA women’s soccer team. It goes on to cover some of the history of the Women’s World Cup, and includes live interviews with some of the greatest American women soccer players such as Michelle Akers (who led the first victorious women’s team to the World Cup in 1994), Mia Hamm, and Brandi Chastain.

Even if you’re not a sports fan, this documentary is a wonderful tribute to female athletes and for the soccer player in your life, it is sure to be a big hit.

What documentaries about women and girls does your family enjoy watching?

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