News from the PWN Pipeline
"A word that is symbolic of systemic discouragement of girls to lead."
Sheryl Sandberg's campaign to ban the word 'bossy' is described in this ABC News article. Sandberg argues that 'bossy' is an insulting term that discourages girls from being assertive, confident, and pursuing leadership roles. Though banning the word might not be entirely feasible, Sandberg explains that the importance of the campaign is to encourage young girls and women to feel proud and empowered by ambition and leadership.
The Ban Bossy website | http://banbossy.com/#
"Banning a word like bossy isn't the answer."
The Guardian asks parents how they feel about Sheryl Sandberg's campaign to ban the word 'bossy', and whether they agree with the initiative. Parents are also asked to reflect on how they feel, or would feel, about their daughter being called bossy. The answers are surprising varied, with many parents insisting that banning a word isn't the solution to actively encouraging girls to be more confident or take more initiative.
PWN readers: please feel free to share your opinions on 'Ban Bossy' in the comments section. I will say that I have never heard anyone describe a boy or a man's behavior as 'bossy,' and nor have I heard anyone chastise a boy or a man for being bossy. Thus, I agree with Sandberg that 'bossy' is a disparaging term that appears to only be directed at girls and women, and has the power to dissuade and discourage confidence. Bringing national attention to this issue will likely be the most positive outcome of her campaign. I suspect that awareness, and not necessarily a dictionary revision, has been the goal all along.
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