The Problem With Calling Someone A Lady Boss

Is it necessary to say “male boss” when describing a man in a powerful position, or a man that is independent and a hard worker?

No, of course not.

And yes, that is part of the problem. Men do not need their gender pointed out, and for some reason, women do. It’s as if we are all going to safely assume that everyone is male unless specified otherwise. The Daily Mail do a great job at that; “Female MP” this and “Female CEO” that.

We are indeed pointing out the problem – a problem that indeed does need to be pointed out – but are we using this term of ‘Female Boss’ as a positive, when it is a negative? Why can we not empower each other by saying just ‘Boss’?
“Be a Boss. You are a Boss. You’re THE Boss. #Boss”

Beyonce once sang; “Diva is a female version of a hustler.” Well, why can’t a woman be a hustler, and a man be a diva?

They are implying that we have to be the female version. To me, that isn’t equality. Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities. We can be the ‘Boss’ without putting our gender on it, just like a man can.

There are plenty of graphics out there on the world wide web that use the ‘Female Boss’ phrase to be inspiring and motivational. Some greatly fail at this by being what I can only think is accidentally sexist. By saying things like; “Look Like a Girl, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Work Like a Boss,” you are not inspiring women. You are telling them to look a certain way and to stop thinking ‘like a girl’, almost in a tone that reflects the common phrase of ‘throw like a girl’. That isn’t going to motivate me. That’s going to imply that I’m ugly and stupid.

Though sexism gets in the way for women trying to climb the ladder, or even for just being reproductive creatures – as a fifth of women are harassed at work over pregnancy or flexible hours – anyone can be anything that they want to be.

I do not wish to offend anyone who uses the term ‘Female Boss’ as inspiration. Inspiration is inspiration, and I do not mean to put a dampen on it. Especially if you’ve got it tattooed like Tulisa from N-Dubz.

What I would like to suggest is that we stop labelling our powerful status with our gender. Not because we are ashamed, but because we can do whatever a man can (and more – hello uterus that can make humans) and because of this, our status should be the same.

So hello to all the Bosses, Leaders and Masters of Craft out there. You fucking rock.