Girl Scouts Join Movement to Ban the Word Bossy

The word police are back and this time they want to ban the "B-word". No, not that word the other "b-word", Bossy. The Girl Scouts and Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, along with female celebrities want to ban the word because apparently it is used to demean women according to Townhall.com.

Seriously.

A new campaign sponsored by Girl Scouts, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and dozens of female celebrities seeks to ban the term "bossy." The term apparently is used to demean women and girls are not seeking out leadership positions due to a fear of being disliked or being called bossy.

Bossy: adjective. given to ordering people about; overly authoritative; domineering.

The website for "ban bossy" includes this ominous message:

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.

This is one of the more idiot "movements" to ban a word that I have seen in a long time. As Townhall points out, males have been called bossy or worse before. This is the problem we have when the PC Police come out and want to ban a word because it makes someone feel bad. Eventually more words are added to the list of "banned words" because of people's feelings.

This might be the best part of Townhall's article:

Instead of banning words like "bossy," perhaps a more effective strategy would be to teach girls ways to exhibit leadership without being, well, bossy. "Leadership" isn't a synonym for bossy--but "dictatorial," "overbearing," and "abrasive" are. There's a huge difference between being a leader and being abrasive.

Also, for what it's worth, demanding that a word be banned is quite bossy in and of itself.

Well said.