Girls may be more likely to envision themselves in leadership roles and gain more confidence when they see themselves reflected in superhero movies and television shows, according to a new study that underscores the importance of on-screen representation .

The findings released Monday by the Womens Media Center, which studies female representation in media and culture, show that girls face a confidence gap compared to boys. But seeing women in superhero and other science fiction roles on screen can help girls believe they can achieve anything they put their mind to. It also provides them with impactful sources of inspiration more so than when boys see male characters, the authors assert.