From Girlhood to Girlboss: Advocating for Leadership Programs for Girls
Every trend or slang or phrase tends to have a shelf life, but there’s a word I’m not quite ready to retire despite recent backlash – girlboss.
The term girlboss was coined in 2014 by Sophie Amoruso and was a best selling book, a Netflix show and for some a way of life. To be a girlboss was about being a confident and capable woman who is successful in her career, or the one who pursues her own ambitions, instead of working for others or settling in life.
However, as time went on and social media progressed, the concept received backlash, criticism and disdain from Gen Z and feminists. In 2022, Amoruso herself, tweeted “Please stop using the word Girlboss thank you.”
Sorry Sophie but this year, Girlboss was one of the 629 words added to Merriam Webster’s dictionary and is defined as “an ambitious and successful woman (especially a businesswoman or entrepreneur).”
Today is International Day of the Girl, an international observance declared by the United Nations to support more opportunities for girls and increase awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide.
The UN challenges the global community at large to advocate and champion for girls and women’s rights and drive progress on gender equality. One way to move beyond statements and more towards action, is to design leadership programs for girls.
Girlboss does not have to be a bad word or outdated concept. Perhaps we need to evolve our thinking around the term and encourage girls and young women to be prepared to lead like a boss.
Girls often do not receive the encouragement or instruction to assume leadership. According to a recent Forbes article, nearly 50% of girls think speaking their mind will make them unlikable and only 1 in 5 girls ages 8-17 think they have the qualities to be a good leader.
In society, across a variety of industries and in all levels, we continue to see women underrepresented in leadership roles. The new girlboss mindset should be to educate girls to become women who are prepared to rise to the highest levels of leadership.
Every girl is a leader in her own right. Girls should exercise the power of their voice and our industry can help amplify those voices by designing programs where girls can lead and thrive.
Leadership programs not only empower girls but also support their growth, build character, and prepare them for the future. These programs can be designed for girls to share lived experiences and gain different perspectives while also giving girls the potential to grow as leaders in their communities. Girls may also create their own leadership lessons to share with others and help build their own skills to lead.
Professional associations and organizations like NYWICI and others can help teach girls the reality of leadership and the elements of leading at an early age and not solely rely on education or schools to teach these skills.
We want to set girls up for success in business. Success is defined by an individual and what makes sense for that person. However, girls should have a network that helps them achieve whatever their definition of success is. Having a vibrant network is key to any leader’s success.
Women’s achievements can and should be praised and celebrated at every stage. Let’s celebrate not what girls should be but instead celebrate who they ARE. They are leaders. They are girlbosses. They are SWIBs – successful woman in business.
Leadership and the ability to lead is what we need to normalize, build, and support. Now is the time for SWIBS to unite working together to develop leadership experiences for girls around the globe.
Written by Brandi Boatner, Chief Programming Officer, NYWICI | Manager, Digital & Advocacy Communications, IBM
