The B-word. Yup, that’s right: “Bossy.” The single word that’s been causing controversy over the past few weeks have many women fired up and ready to take a stand, including politicians, celebrities, CEOs and college students just like you and me. If Queen B wants to put an end to “bossy,” maybe it’s time to take a closer look and demystify what all the pandemonium is about.
Author of the renowned novel Lean In and Chief Operating Officer of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg started the campaign “Ban Bossy” because of how the word puts a negative connotation on girls from a young age. When boys want to take charge of a project in the classroom at a young age, they’re labeled as leaders. When girls want to assume the same responsibilities and take the reins on a classroom activity, they’re called “bossy.” Girls, particularly more than boys, fear being labeled with a demeaning word because that leads to them being disliked. As a result, girls shy away from leadership opportunities by the time they’re in middle school and are often afraid of speaking up in class or running for class president. These characteristics carry into adulthood, and women are continuously shown in men’s shadows. By banning the word “bossy,” we can start to see a change in the progression of women holding leadership positions in upcoming generations.
Globally, women are responsible for 66 percent of the work and produce 50 percent of the food. However, women only make 10 percent of the income, own 1 percent of the property, and are represented by under 20 percent of government across the world. If the word “bossy” can be erased from people’s vocabulary, then there will be a chance for all women to embrace and execute their power.