How Women Defined the Galaxy Far, Far Away

Starting back with the ever-iconic Princess Leia, Star Wars has always had strong women to admire, and they're only ever getting more and more, with greater variety each time a new woman is introduced to us. Here are just a few ways that women have shaped the Star Wars galaxy as we know it.

Female Jedi in Star Wars have been really influential not only over the galaxy and the lives of people they help or save, but also over our own perceptions of Jedi, what they can be and what they should be. High Republic Jedi like Keeve Trennis, Avar Kriss, Vernestra Rwoh, Orla Jareni and more allow us to see different parts of what it means to be a Jedi during that era. Then, in The Clone Wars we get Jedi like Ahsoka Tano, Luminara Unduli, Jocasta Nu and more who provide different angles on the Force and the Jedi Way. Then naturally, there's Rey, the first live-action Jedi heroine, who's inspiring story brings hope and comfort.

Some of the biggest leaders in the Star Wars galaxy were women. There are politicians like Padmé Amidala, who fight for what is right even when facing heavy pushback. Then there are the brave leaders of the Rebel Alliance, like Breha Organa, Mon Mothma, Leia Organa and Hera Syndulla and more that have a passion to free the galaxy from the Empire's tyranny, and help as many people as they can along the way. Each of these characters has their own contributions to the movement that would save the galaxy from the pervasive darkness that was corroding it.

Then of course, there are the strong women of Star Wars who are enmeshing themselves in the fight for what's right, despite not having Force powers or leadership titles. Heroes like Jyn Erso put everything out there to lose in search of hope and for the bettering of the whole galaxy. Though many of their stories are sad, some can be happier and regardless of the ending, the strength of these characters is definitely inspiring.

Then there are also the female characters introducing new parts of Star Wars, and expanding the galaxy a little bit more than what we had before they came along. There are of course examples like Qi'ra, who gave us a new perspective on the criminal underworld of the galaxy, or Rose who reminded us that anybody can step up and be a hero. But I think the biggest example of this is definitely the Nightsisters, who's magic expanded the galaxy beyond what we previously thought, pushing the boundaries of what Star Wars is capable of in a really cool (and spooky) way.