We Asked, You Answered: How Do Women Really Feel About the Word "Bossy"?

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Apr 21, 2014

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A few weeks ago, after we took sight of the Ban Bossy campaign, we asked SheSpeaks members how they really felt about the word “bossy” and about Sheryl Sandberg’s campaign to ban the word from our vocabulary to protect young girls. 

• 55% of women think being bossy can damage a man’s career -  yet only 51% say it can damage a woman’s career
• A minority (23%) of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” believe that “bossiness” is, in general, a positive leadership quality
• The number of women who do and do not recall being called “bossy” is identical at 44%
•  Yet a majority (52%) of those who heard the word say it had no effect on them, and 17% even say it made them feel empowered

Aliza Freud, Founder and CEO of SheSpeaks

"It’s clear that women believe there is a double standard regarding what they need to achieve in the workplace, and that they have to work harder than men do to get ahead.  This sentiment is reflected in their opinion that women need ambition (75% women vs. 66% of men), strong negotiation skills (67% vs. 60% for men), a strong network (64% vs. 53% for men) and an advanced degree (60% vs. 47% for men)."

"However, only 2% of women believe that being bossy is a good leadership quality for men, and 6% say it is a good leadership quality for women. So we’re seeing that women are consistent in believing that bossiness is a poor quality for female and male leaders."

"The bottom line is that women perceive that they will need to work that much harder and be that much better, because they are still working at a deficit to men."