90's TV Characters WHo Were Feminists Way Before It Was Cool

Source: ABC Photo Archives / Getty

There are so many misconceptions about what it means to be a feminist. The biggest myth is that people who are feminist hate men. Another lie is that feminist want to promote women superiority. But let’s get one thing straight — feminism is none of that.

According to Britannica.com, Feminism is the belief in social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. There’s such a deep rooted history, especially in the Western world, of women being oppressed and stripped of their basic human rights. Just think of the Middle East; Women in Saudi Arabia weren’t allowed to have a driver’s license until 2018!

Throughout history, lots of women have turned to entertainers as their role model and example of how to be powerful, confident, and unapologetic in their woman-ness. The 90’s was an important time for the women’s movement — especially for Black women. Girl groups were taking over, female rappers had taken over hip hop and women in TV were allowed to be more than just sex symbols.

Women Empowerment was so big in the 90’s that it was deemed Third Wave Feminism. It was followed by the first wave, which occurred in the early 20th century, and was mainly concerned with women’s right to vote. The second wave, which took place in the 1960s and 1970s, refers to the women’s liberation movement for equal legal and social rights. The late 80’s and entire 90’s seeked to challenge the definitions of femininity and what it truly meant to be a woman. The women on our list representing that shift and taught us all how to move in a room full of vultures.

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Maxine Shaw 

Maxine, the Maverick was everything that the feminist movement represents. She was powerful, confident and pro-woman. She obviously loved men, but never let them come between her and career as a successful attorney-at-law. Maxine didn’t take any ish from anyone, but was always there to give some good advice to whomever needed it.

Moesha 

Although she was just a teen, Moesha had more gumption than all of her friends, and even some of her teachers. She always stood up for what was right and never let the sexist, racist ideologies of her Los Angeles neighborhood define how far she could go in life.

Laura Winslow 

All the boys loved Laura, and the girls wanted to be her. Ever since she was a teen, Laura was wise, focused and much more independent than her friends — and even her older brother Eddie. Her character started out as vain and boy-thirsty. But once she realized the power she possessed as a young, educated, Black woman in Chicago, she moved accordingly.

Khadijah James 

Khadijah was the definition of INDEPENDENT.  She was a hustler who set the blueprint for being a boss, business woman. She even started her own magazine from the ground up with little to no help at all. She always stood up for herself as well as her friends, and never let a man affect her business.

Pamela James 

People like to say that Pam was sassy, but quite the contrary. She just didn’t take any ish from anyone, especially men. She had a successful career, lived on her own and always helped Gina stand up for herself against Martin.