"Ban Bossy" Encourages Girls to Be the Boss of Anything
When a little boy asserts himself, he’s called a “leader.” But when a little girl does the same, she risks being called “bossy.” Many people are not OK with that.
LeanIn.Org, in partnership with the Girl Scouts, wants to #BanBossy.
But why is bossy so bad?
According to a statement by LeanIn.Org:
Words like bossy send a message to young girls: keep your voice down, don’t raise your hand, don’t take the lead. By middle school, girls are less interested in leadership roles than boys — a trend that continues into adulthood. So it’s no surprise that women make up just 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs and less than 20% of Congress. Ban Bossy aims to change this by generating the awareness we need to stop discouraging — and start encouraging — our girls to lead.
LeanIn.Org, in partnership with the Girl Scouts, wants to #BanBossy.
But why is bossy so bad?
According to a statement by LeanIn.Org:
Words like bossy send a message to young girls: keep your voice down, don’t raise your hand, don’t take the lead. By middle school, girls are less interested in leadership roles than boys — a trend that continues into adulthood. So it’s no surprise that women make up just 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs and less than 20% of Congress. Ban Bossy aims to change this by generating the awareness we need to stop discouraging — and start encouraging — our girls to lead.
The “Ban Bossy” campaign, launched over the weekend, has already taken off.
Sheryl Sandberg, Condoleezza Rice, and Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chavez were featured on Parade magazine. This week, Sandberg will speak on Good Morning America, ABC World News, and Nightline to talk about the campaign.
“Ban Bossy” PSAs have also been created by people from Beyoncé to Jane Lynch.
LeanIn.Org encourages people to take the pledge to #BanBossy, and check out the tips for leaders, educators, etc. and facts on girls’ leadership on the website.
The website also features shareable images with inspirational quotes from Michelle Obama to the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for posting to social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook.
“I used to be called bossy. Now I’m badass,” the site quotes Katie Couric.
Even more inspirational is the list of stories and resources of girls already “flexing their leadership muscles,” as featured on the website.
How will you “Ban Bossy?”
This post originally appeared on Vitamin W
About the Author
Maggie Freleng is a Brooklyn-based journalist and photographer focusing on social justice, women's issues, gender, and sexuality. Follow her on Twitter @dixiy89.