"And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."
~ Hillary Clinton
Dear Little Miss Bossy,
Maybe it was during recess when you were playing a game of make-believe, assigning different roles and characters to your playmates.
Maybe it was that week you were given the honor of being line leader. You couldn’t help but feel excited Monday morning, the first day of your line leading duties, only to be shut down by the little boy behind you.
Maybe it was when you were trick-or-treating last Halloween and you told your little brother how much candy he should take out of the bowl rather than how much candy he wanted.
So, you’ve been called bossy.
Let me tell you, this will not be the last time.
You’ll find yourself on stage for your 1st grade play. You sing too loud and your dance moves are too dramatic. Your classmates’ parents are not too pleased with you for upstaging their kids.
Then you’ll be in your 3rd grade math class. You are really good at your multiplication tables because yesterday you traded in your hour of watching SpongeBob for an hour of studying. When the teacher asks, “What’s 7x8?” you are all too eager to raise your hand – know-it-all, smarty-pants, teacher’s pet, show-off!
In 5th grade you’ll go to summer camp. You are playing soccer, your favorite sport, with your new friends. You score the winning goal and really almost every goal for your team. “You cheated!” … “You pushed me!” … “You kick like a girl anyways!”
By middle school, you’ve heard the word bossy far too many times. It’s now not only a label others stick on you, but it’s a label you apply to yourself. BOSSY - it’s a part of you, and one you are not too proud of. You now might be less eager to raise your hand whether or not you know the answer in class and are totally too embarrassed to ask your crush to the winter dance.
Fast-forward to high school. People now have traded in the word “bossy,” for a slightly different “b-word.” Maybe now you are the editor in chief of your school newspaper and your honest critiques were a bit too harsh for the writer. Maybe your lab partner doesn’t really know how to use the Bunsen Burner properly and you’re only trying to help. Maybe you have a strong opinion in your American Politics class that your professor just doesn’t agree with. Maybe your summer fling wishes you were a little less intense and more like “other girls,” whatever that means.
Unfortunately, if you are called “Little Miss Bossy” in kindergarten, that label that tends to follow you. It persists in every aspect of your life and you hear it from almost every direction. You’ll hear it in the classroom, on the field, on stage, in the workplace, in your home and really anywhere you go. You’ll hear it from strangers, teachers, friends, significant others and family alike.
Sometimes it’ll hurt you – you’ll feel ashamed, embarrassed and disliked. But one day, something magical will happen. Someone will say to you “Stop being so bossy,” and instead, it’ll empower you. You’ll feel strong, independent and bold. You’ll think to yourself, “Hey, I kinda like this whole bossy thing!”
You are bossy, ambitious, cut-throat competitive, rude, headstrong, outspoken and flat-out b*tchy. You are a full on, “Nasty Woman.” But progress, success and history don’t happen in silence, and you were made to be heard.
Don’t “Stop being bossy,” because you were destined for greatness. So own your bossiness with a smile and let your success speak for itself.
Sincerely yours,
A Nasty Woman
