The 13 Most Empowering Sex Scenes for Women

When good girl Annette finally decides to give up her precious, Seventeen-magazine-lauded virginity to bad-boy-with-a-good-heart Sebastian, it's the moment when everything changes. Sure, she's lost her V-card, but she's saved the guy. And what's more romantic—or empowering—than that?

Basic Instinct features one of the most raw, and borderline scary, sex scenes in film. But nothing says woman on top like a gal who offs her lovers after doing the deed.

When it comes to scenes portraying loss of virginity, The Spectacular Now's take is one of the most honest out there. But, unlike a lot of other on-camera first times, it's empowering to watch the innocent (but not inane) Aimee take control of her body while exploring her teenage sexuality.

There's nothing more frustrating than always being on the giving end of an orgasm. So when Vicky's boyfriend does his homework and finally gives her a big one, it's gratifying for all of us.

The connection between Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoilos) and Emma (Léa Seydoux) is powerful—and palpable—in Blue Is the Warmest Color's more intimate scenes. There's sexual exploration, trust, and the discovery of love and heartbreak, which makes for one dynamic coming-of-age story.

Love & Basketball gives us a real, freaked-out teenager's perspective on having sex—not to mention seeing a penis—for the first time.

Being dominated doesn't usually go hand-in-hand with feeling empowered, but when you're Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary, there's nothing more arousing.

You have to give it to the woman who risks it all (all being the rich, safe, and super douchey fiancé) to do what she wants. And what Rose wants is Leonardo DiCaprio's sexy, charming, and impoverished Jack Dawson. #neverletgo

She's nervous, babbling, shy, and simply cannot understand how he could be so quiet. But there's a moment when Allie and Noah come together, and, with a simple "I love you," our girl finds her confidence.

In one of the more lady-centric sex scenes in cinema history, Jane Fonda's character is brought to orgasm for the first time by Jon Voight's paraplegic Vietnam War veteran in 1978's Coming Home. And the intimacy, emotion, and power of the moment is beautifully captured on Fonda's mid-climax face.

Rarely do you see a woman masturbating in film. But in Mulholland Drive, Naomi Watts gives us one graphic, self-serving sex scene that is solely for her character Diane's pleasure. We'll have what she's having.

Watching John Cena fumble the dirty talk in this scene from Amy Schumer's brilliantly funny Trainwreck will give you such secondhand embarrassment. It'll make you cringe and it'll make you laugh―and it'll also make you cheer for Amy Schumer's writing. She gives us the way-too-rare sex scene where the dude is the hopelessly clumsy one, while the woman knows exactly what she wants. (Isn't that what it's usually like in real life, anyway?)

Ahh, the scene when Jessica Jones bones Luke Cage after they both realize they have superpowers. It's fulfilling for her because she was attracted to him before she knew he was superhero-strong, so she thought she couldn't really let go with him for fear of hurting him. Then when she realizes he's also unbreakable, she knows that means they complement each other, and she finally has a partner who can match her strength for strength.