In collaboration with the Girl Scouts of America, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's organization Lean In is launching Ban Bossy, a new campaign against the dismissive language often used to describe women as leaders.
In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Sandberg and Anna Marie Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, told personal stories of being described as "bossy" by friends and teachers. The article lays out the connotations of terms such as "bossy," "aggressive," and "overly ambitious," and how they affect how girls feel about leadership from a young age.
The article contains some statistics about how early girls adopt an aversion to leadership roles:
"Sixth- and seventh-grade girls rate being popular and well-liked as more important than being perceived as competent or independent, while boys are more likely to rate competence and independence as more important, according to a report by the American Association of University Women. A 2008 survey by the Girl Scouts of nearly 4,000 boys and girls found that girls between the ages of 8 and 17 avoid leadership roles for fear that they will be labeled "bossy" or disliked by their peers."
The "bossy" label, according to the campaign, sticks with women well beyond childhood.
The Girl Scouts posted a star-studded PSA for the Ban Bossy campaign:
View this video on YouTube
A number of celebrities and leaders have tweeted their support of The Ban Bossy campaign:
#banbossy Encourage girls to lead. Join me today: http://t.co/sEkVUpD0B1 x vb
Victoria Beckham@victoriabeckhamFollow
#banbossy Encourage girls to lead. Join me today: http://t.co/sEkVUpD0B1 x vb
11:34 AM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
“Every time you stretch your mind, you boost your confidence.” —The First Lady encouraging girls to lead #BanBossy
FLOTUS@FLOTUSFollow
“Every time you stretch your mind, you boost your confidence.†—The First Lady encouraging girls to lead #BanBossy
05:08 PM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Join @girlscouts, @LeanInOrg & pledge to #banbossy. http://t.co/enhXxXUNxY (Photo: @peoplemag)
Senator Patty Murray@PattyMurrayFollow
Join @girlscouts, @LeanInOrg & pledge to #banbossy. http://t.co/enhXxXUNxY (Photo: @peoplemag)
12:47 PM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
A Man is "a boss" but a woman is "bossy?" WRONG! Let's praise female leadership skills & #BANbossy http://t.co/trPd6HnKCd #NAPWnews2know
Star Jones@StarJonesEsqFollow
A Man is "a boss" but a woman is "bossy?" WRONG! Let's praise female leadership skills & #BANbossy http://t.co/trPd6HnKCd #NAPWnews2know
01:56 PM - 7 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
When it comes to girls, 𠇋ossy” is just another word for “smart.” #banbossy: http://t.co/d9b94PTIOf.
Christiane Amanpour@camanpourFollow
When it comes to girls, 𠇋ossy†is just another word for “smart.†#banbossy: http://t.co/d9b94PTIOf.
09:09 AM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
When boys speak up, they're leaders. When girls speak up, they're called "bossy." A new campaign to #banbossy http://t.co/93CHjkEAoU
Nicholas Kristof@NickKristofFollow
When boys speak up, they're leaders. When girls speak up, they're called "bossy." A new campaign to #banbossy http://t.co/93CHjkEAoU
12:34 PM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
My contribution to the @girlscouts & @LeanInOrg #banbossy campaign, launching today. http://t.co/VHyYHNKBZw
Anna Holmes@AnnaHolmesFollow
My contribution to the @girlscouts & @LeanInOrg #banbossy campaign, launching today. http://t.co/VHyYHNKBZw
11:01 AM - 10 Mar 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Famous female journalists, including Barbara Walters and Elizabeth Vargas, have also spoken out in support:
"Bossy is pejorative. It's, you know, it's not a compliment. "Assertive" is a compliment. "Bossy" is an insult in many cases, or a put down. So, I think that the fact that the word is bandied about so colloquially, especially about women, I don't think I've ever heard a man called "bossy". —Elizabeth Vargas.
The full video is available here: ABC Women: Let's Ban the 'B' Word
To learn more, visit BanBossy.com .
