Your Gift Guide for Girls Who Know the Future is Female

Now, more than ever, you want your daughter to grow up with strong female role models. But when you search for gifts with a bit of girl power, sadly, you end up with little in the way of real women.

Sure, you had your heart set on one of artist Wendy Tsao’s feminist makeunders of Bratz dolls into idols like Jane Goodall, Malala Yousefi, or J.K. Rowling, but we can’t all be so lucky. Still, there’s no need to despair just yet. For those of you who believe the future is female, we’ve picked out some truly awesome girl power gifts that go beyond scantily-clad action heroes.

For mini humanitarians with a political bent, Eleanor Roosevelt is up there as one of the most esteemed women in the world. This tee from Okllo Shop puts the famous First Lady front and center along with her empowering message: “Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”

Precocious girls, who dare defy society’s very low expectations of them, will find a hero in Roald Dahl’s Matilda. This stylish print from Kid Lit Prints is a simple and subtle reminder that real girl power is all about books, not looks.

Focused on those icons who helped create a new normal, Rad American Women A-Z is filled with women who marched, picketed, and forced social change for causes they believed in. The pages are filled with heroes who will inspire children to stand up for what they think is right, no matter the cost.

A perfect stocking stuffer for girls who want to forge their own path, this button from Jane’s Rebellion says it all. You’ll be gifting a healthy dose of defiance and quieting those voices who try to tell your daughter who she ought to be.

For the intellectual in the family, this Virginia Woolf notebook by Obvious State is a beautiful place to document all streams of consciousness and grassroot feminist musings. The front cover illustration is gorgeously empowering, with a woman’s poised and serene face belied only by her untamed and untameable intellect. Woolf’s famous quote, "There is no denying the wild horse in us," emblazoned on the front, provides added inspiration.

Love Alice Mugs’ Frida Kahlo features one of the most internationally recognized female artists of the 20th century. A fighter, a survivor, and a feminist, Kahlo is everyone’s favorite cultural icon. Instantly recognizable, she not only forged her path to artistic super stardom, but she also redefined beauty along the way, making it clear that strong is the new pretty.

Remind your little girl to say “Nah” to injustice whenever necessary. With room decor as inspirational as this Rosa Parks print from Luna Reef, your daughter won’t be one for giving up or giving in.

For girls who dream of dominating the world with their own branded empires, this diminutive bit of wall art from Red Work Stitches is big on message. The stylish embroidery helps little girls to see themselves in a future position of power, combining feminine floral aesthetics with a boss lady spirit for the pint-sized head honcho in your life.

A cool magazine subscription that’s about more than makeup and boyfriends, Kazoo is dedicated to inspiring content for little girls. Its stories are either developed or inspired by top female artists, explorers, scientists, chefs, athletes, activists, and writers. Regular features include interviews with inspiring women from Olympic athletes to astronauts, in addition to loads of other fun stuff.

This Ardently Crafted Florence Nightingale paper doll celebrates the Victorian feminist icon, social reformist, and pioneer of working women everywhere. A wonderful symbol of female professionalism and compassion, she’s an inspiration in her own right. Other notable figures in the collection include super scientist Marie Curie, mathematician Emmy Noether, as well as a number of notable queens from Nefertiti to Elizabeth I.

For something a little more modern, Freckle and Fair’s Boss Lady prints spotlight contemporary feminist icons in a style that ups the ante on Warhol’s celebrity pieces. A far cry from pop sensations, the women featured here are important leaders of our day – from Gloria Steinem, of Second Wave Feminist fame, to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice and advocate for women’s rights. As wall art, these leaders will inspire your girl throughout the years, lasting well beyond 15 minutes of stardom.

When it comes to toys, boys get all the high-stakes adventures while girls… well, they get tea parties. For girls who want to build something that’s not all candy shops and floral boutiques, this LEGO Cuusoo Research Institute 21110 set is a breath of fresh air. Created by real-life geoscientist Ellen Kooijman, it features three female scientists working in the fields of astronomy, chemistry, and paleontology.

For the more science-minded child, Girls Think Of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women celebrates the contributions of women – both big and small – to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. From inventions that are some of the most enduring (the windshield wiper) to the best loved (the chocolate chip cookie), the book delves into what inspired these women and how they turned their ideas into reality, encouraging young girls to start inventing themselves.

A fun gift that drives home the message that “beauty is only skin deep,” Jason Freeny's awesome sculptural pieces are just perfect. Great for girls who care more about what’s on the inside, his work takes popular commercial characters and literally turns them inside out.

What better way to showcase your daughter’s adventurous spirit? We love This Girl Tee’s Risk shirt for girls bold and brave – as well as for ones who need a little nudge. And the graphic goodness doesn’t stop there. You can also find t-shirts with slogans like This Girl Asks Why, This Girl Thinks Big, and This Girl Kicks Hard among other positive messages in their shop.

Celebrate women in science with some awesome wall art by Rachel Ignotofsky. These prints are strikingly playful and great for any little girl’s room. The entire collection includes 16 different female scientists that you can pick and choose from. Consider adding her Women in Science book to enjoy the full series.

Will you be giving the gift of girl power? What’s on your list?

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Etsy Affiliate Program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com , Etsy.com, and affiliated sites.