by Kara Godfrey

Buffy the Vampire Slayer turns 20 today. Feel old yet? With it also falling on the same week as International Women’s Day, here’s why the blonde, cheerleading vampire killer is the feminist icon we need right now.

First off, she absolutely slays the The Bechdel Test

The Bechdel test is when a film features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. Buffy is happy to have conversations with her female friends about witchcraft, killing monsters and schoolwork, all without needing to bring up men all the time (in other words; bore off Angel).

She can kick butt by herself. Even when she’s completely and utterly terrified

It can be hard having a lot of pressure on your shoulders, and you’re allowed to be scared or freaked out. But that doesn’t stop her doing her job, and is willing to sacrifice her happiness and even her life to look after her friends and family.

She always supports her friends and family no matter what

Buffy has to deal with her closest friend becoming evil, her mother dying, gaining a sister, and losing people all around her. But she always has their back, and will always support them all even if she is struggling herself, showing just how strong she was mentally as well as physically.

She isn’t perfect

Hell, even the one true vampire slayer makes mistakes. She falls in love with the wrong guy, puts her friends in danger, nearly gets killed and can be pretty selfish at times. But she admits her faults and even more key, learns from them.

She has the best sassy comebacks

Ultimate clapback queen.

She comes through heartbreak a stronger person

No matter how hard a break-up is, we can all agree they suck. Especially when the first time you have sex, you turn your boyfriend into an evil killing maniac. But Buffy gets through them all, from her first love Angel, kind-yet-too-good Riley, and of course gorgeously dangerous Spike. But by the end of it, she’s learnt and realized she can be exactly what she wants, with or without a man.

She sticks two fingers up to the patriarchy

Forever messing with her destiny, Buffy doesn’t just accept it when a bunch of men tell her she is meant to die to fulfill her prophecy. Screw you Watcher’s Council; what other girl could come back from the dead and keep kicking ass?

She is, simply put, girl power

Her speech in the final series could speak out to any woman struggling to find her place in the world, and it’s only her friendships and strength in the women around her that means she ultimately always wins.

“Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Are you ready to be strong?”

GIF source: Giphy