By Tabitha Redder/nw news editor
A different five-letter word is coming to mind when someone says “the b-word,” thanks to a campaign promoting the need for brave, ambitious girls in society.
Recently, celebrities like Beyoncé Knowles and Jane Lynch are jumping onto the Ban Bossy movement, organized by the Girl Scouts of America and Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg. The campaign aims to eliminate the use of the word “bossy” because it is often used to repress assertive girls instead of encouraging them to become confident leaders.
In many cases in society, if a man is in a leadership position, he’s described as self-assured and is respected while a female in the same position would be considered pushy or “bossy” and has a much more difficult time earning the respect the man is offhandedly given.
In many things I’ve read about the movement, those opposing the campaign argue, “What’s wrong with being called bossy? I’m bossy and I love it.” But while those opposing may be adults content with receiving insults, an insecure girl in elementary school looking for approval from her peers might not feel the same.
This is something important we need to teach everyone, but especially the easily influenced younger generation.
“If you ask girls why they don’t want to lead, they don’t want to be called bossy,” Sandberg said in an ABC interview. “They don’t want to be disliked.” Sandberg also said these mindsets are likely to continue into adulthood.
It’s heartbreaking that little girls are refraining from expressing themselves to please or be more appealing to their peers, and that needs to change.
The campaign has leaped bounds, gaining other celebrity endorsements such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Garner through social media on Twitter using the hashtag #banbossy.
Although completely banning the word from the English language is a bit far-fetched, the campaign addresses an important issue of equality that is stifling potential female leaders in society.
A movement encouraging ambitious, confident women is long overdue. Hopefully, Ban Bossy will deliver.
