15 Fierce female-empowerment songs every mom should teach her daughter

11. “Confident” by Demi Lovato

Video: DemiLovatoVEVO/YouTube

Let’s all take a moment to thank the tween pop stars of this generation for being (mostly) self-loving, (usually) body-positive and willing to can the catty crap.

Lyrics to belt out:

It’s time to get the chains out
Is your tongue tied up?
‘Cause this is my ground
And I’m dangerous
And you can get out
But it’s all about me tonight

12. “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys

Video: aliciakeysVEVO/YouTube

Ah, Alicia Keys, making it cool to play piano again for kids everywhere. Who wouldn’t see a girl-power idol in the woman responsible for “A Woman’s Worth” and “Karma”?

Lyrics to belt out:

Looks like a girl, but she’s a flame
So bright, she can burn your eyes
Better look the other way
You can try but you’ll never forget her name
She’s on top of the world

13. “Girl in a Country Song” by Maddie & Tae

Video: MaddieandTaeVEVO/YouTube

For the country girls out there, you can’t get much better than Maddie & Tae’s tongue-in-cheek take on the casual misogyny of country music.

Lyrics to belt out:

I hear you over there on your tailgate whistlin’
Sayin’, “Hey girl.” (“Hey, girl.”)
But you know I ain’t listenin’
‘Cause I got a name
And to you it ain’t “pretty little thing”, “hottie” or “baby”
Yeah it’s drivin’ me red-red-red-red-red-red-redneck crazy

14. “Who Says” by Selena Gomez

Video: SelenaGomezVEVO/YouTube

Selena Gomez is another tween favorite embracing girls being awesome to each other.

Lyrics to belt out:

Who says, who says you’re not perfect? (yeah)
Who says you’re not worth it? (yeah yeah)
Who says you’re the only one that’s hurtin’? (oh)
Trust me, that’s the price of beauty (hey yeah, beauty)
Who says you’re not pretty? (who said?)
Who says you’re not beautiful? (I’m just beautiful me)
Who says?

15. “Love Myself” by Hailee Steinfeld

Video: Hailee SteinfeldVEVO/YouTube

With lyrics that declare “I know how to scream my own name,” Steinfeld’s self-empowerment song could definitely be interpreted as a masturbation ballad, but she insists it’s just open to interpretation. In any case, any double entendres will fly right over most kids’ heads. And if they pick up on it? Well, let’s call that a teachable moment.

Lyrics to belt out:

Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else
(Hey)
Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else
(I love me)