With no formal definition, the term “Girl Boss” has taken on a life of its own. The title, often attributed to the many women walking across the campus of Hampton University, is representative of a woman of great authority who demands respect.
Some would argue that the qualifications of a girl boss are self-explanatory: to be a boss one must be held in high regard within the workforce and the corporate world. For those who resonate with each positive connotation the role is a welcomed one, but what about the ladies who don’t fit into those guidelines? How can they discover their inner girl boss in a world of high expectations and little wiggle room?
Start by broadening the scope.
Recognize that being a boss isn’t synonymous with having a certain career path or accomplishing a specific goal. It’s the attributes of the woman that make her a force to be reckoned with. Taking on the role of a girl boss is an active choice; it requires perseverance, strong boundaries, vulnerability, and a clear head.
Despite the common myth, positions of this caliber aren’t all glitz and glimmer. Sometimes, being a girl boss is as simple as maintaining a good work and life balance or humbly accepting defeat when it occurs. Success doesn’t come in one pre-packaged box, but can be found in the small moments of everyday life.
Realign your focus; take it back to the beginning.
Successful women exist in every facet of the world, but when women are expected to meet certain standards to be considered extraordinary, other outstanding qualities go uncelebrated. The traits of a girl boss can be found in the women what are often overlooked by society: a mother, whose strength and dedication to her family fuels her forward, or a sister, who offers words of wisdom to her younger siblings. While these characteristics might seem lackluster to some, they’re the foundation of every girl boss.
There’s no one true definition of a girl boss. The aspects of these women are ever-changing, ever-evolving and so are requirements they’ve been confined to. When deciding what it means to be a girl boss or how to align with the term, the choice is yours and yours alone.
Peace and blessings,
Lindsay