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The Girl Scouts just launched the Ban Bossy campaign this morning. They post an interesting story of young kids, where a boy is seen as being a natural leader, a girl is seen as bossy. Agree?
As the mother of a 'tween, I'm definitely encouraging her to be anything she would like to be.
http://banbossy.com
Posted in these groups: 
Mentorship
Gender
Mentorship Gender
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 1
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If someone is confusing "bossy" with "leadership", than I would argue that the issue is not the term, but their understanding of leadership. My daughter and my son can both be "bossy" at times, and I call them out equally on that behavior. However, when they exhibit more positive leadership traits I encourage them. My concern with the "ban bossy" mantra is that it discourages parents from differentiating between good and bad "leadership". If I fail to correct my daughter's (or son's) "bossy" tendencies then I am encouraging them to be the type of boss that nobody wants to follow.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
Great point Maj Mitchell. Maybe it was the way I was raised, but I have never considered girls or women bossy. My father treated my mother as an equal. My mother and two sisters are very strong leaders, and I have never considered them bossy. I try my best to do the same. My wife is an equal and we try to instill in our kids the same values that our parents did with us. It would be interesting to hear what kids call my daughter at school. My daughter is not scared to jump in and get the job done (unless it involves cleaning her room), and her mother and I encourage that.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
This is great discussion. As I read the comments I wonder if the difference is that children of military members are generally raised in a culture where leadership qualities are more appreciated than elsewhere. Personally, I know both of my kids are much more independent, and less concerned with others' judgement of them compared to their peers. All that aside, I do think there's an important discussion in understanding how simple words like bossy, and the other B word, can be used much more loosely than they should.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I raised my teen daughter and always stressed that she is a whole person. She doesn't have half a vote or have to live in a kitchen to make 'her man' happy. She was 15 and asking questions but she actually taught me something. Composure. When faced with a difficult social situation she handled it with class and maturity.
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SSgt (Join to see)
She is moving from Florida to live in my place. I am very excited because of the tragic childhood she suffered. I look at this being another chance for her to get to know me better. Her Mom absconded with my daughter and was gone for 15 years.
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