About a year ago I watched the video for the Ban Bossy Campaign. It’s message rang true for me and hit me hard because as a little girl I was oppressed with words like bossy. I think that this campaign really applies to our class. Take a look at the following information and I think you’ll understand why.
Their Campaign Pitch: “When a little boy asserts himself, he’s called a “leader.” Yet when a little girl does the same, she risks being branded “bossy.” Words like bossy send a message: don’t raise your hand or speak up. By middle school, girls are less interested in leading than boys—a trend that continues into adulthood. Together we can encourage girls to lead.”
Their Video Outreach:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dynbzMlCcw[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1q1CiuCET8[/youtube]
This is an awesome campaign!! I loved watching both the videos and I can’t wait to learn more about it and watch it grow. I found this campaign especially touching because I am a female athlete. Growing up I always played sports and I was called “bossy” because I was so competitive, eliminating this world would help girls become more confident in their every day lives. I believe that in todays world we have become more accepting of women leaders and this is a step in the right direction. Targeting this campaign towards the younger audience is a great idea to get the younger generation use to how the world should be now.
I think that this campaign is so important! For so long women have been told that they are not as capable as being in a leadership role as men. Women are discouraged from leading other because they are constantly told that they are “bossy” or women should only speak when spoken to. Telling a young girl that she is bossy can cause permanent damage and discourage her from ever trying to take a leadership position again. If we can encourage girls to feel comfortable with leadership at a young age then that will start a cycle of women in leadership which is what this world needs. Women are slowly but surely making their way towards equality and this campaign is a great step in that direction.
I am all for this movement! I think that the mentality in the 21st century has completely changed in how we as a culture view women as leaders. Women were obviously discouraged in the past to behave in any dominant way, because males are seen as the perfect gender, and should be in charge. I personally know myself and have no problem being lead by a stronger person, whether they are male, female, or other. Negative remarks towards children are especially inhibiting; because they are trying to learn the roles they will play for the rest of their lives.
This is very interesting, Betty. I agree that there is a difference with how little boys are treated vs. little girls. I think it all plays back into gender roles, and how people see masculine vs. feminine. For some reason, some people see feminine with not being leaders, which I disagree with. I think it is great to see women everywhere supporting a movement like this because it is crucial for little girls to understand the difference between leading and being bossy. They do not coincide.
I’m actually familiar with this campaign. I’m a huge auto racing fan, and driver Jimmie Johnson posted about this on twitter, and his daughters were a huge fan of it. Jimmie ended up getting into a few debates on twitter about it, and Johnson was very supportive of his daughters. I personally have no issue with the campaign, if women or young girls want to step up and lead, then good on them.