When was that Moment of Truth for you? When you realized there are certain words in our culture used almost exclusively to keep us down. Words like ‘Bossy!’
For me, it was when someone I love and trust called me that other word that starts with a ‘B.’
Many, many years ago when I was in graduate school, I took a road trip with my brother. We were driving from Kansas where my parents lived, back to the East Coast. We are only a year apart in age, pretty opinionated and, shall we say, vocal. Being cooped up in a car for over 12 hours can be a dangerous environment for siblings who don’t always see eye to eye no matter how much you love them.
The Buzz on ‘Bossy’ and that other ‘B’ Word!
I have no idea what the topic was we were talking so heatedly about. All I remember is we were arguing about something passionately when he said, “Why are you always such a b*#ch!”
Whoa! Talk about conversation stopper!
He was driving so I couldn’t smack him. Furious, I turned to face my window and watched the countryside whiz by. After fuming for a bit, ever so slowly, a notion started forming in my mind. That word, that particular word, was code for “You are a girl. Girls should be nice. A girl expressing anger is a b&%ch.”
It took longer than that road trip for me to really solidify the personal significance of this revelation. But once I got it, it wasn’t such a leap to see all the other words that were meant to be spirit-crushing weapons directed specifically towards women.
Whoa, Slow Down! Keep it PG!
We like to keep things PG on this blog so I won’t go into the details but you all know what words I’m talking about!
The recent hoopla over ‘Bossy’ is interesting and has captured a lot of attention for a reason. It hits a sensitive nerve. Anyone who is authentically reasonable and nice is vulnerable to words that take that sense of identity away in such an underhanded way. Like being called “too sensitive,” or “too emotional” when all that really means is the other person is uncomfortable with emotion and wants you to stop.
On the other side of the fence, in sessions with clients, male or female, I often ask for clarification when a certain word is used that can be taken in different ways. It’s too easy to think we can read each other’s minds and make assumptions that aren’t true.
The Word Bossy
In the case of ‘bossy,’ if a client uses that, or similar, words to describe a female co-worker, supervisor, partner, sister or mother, I might ask: “Are you using ‘bossy’ as code for knowing her mind? Being assertive? Direct?” Which usually brings a laugh of recognition from the client, with a response that is sometimes “Yes, she was intense when she was angry but not in a nasty way. She was fair and knew her mind.” And sometimes “No, she was toxic, controlling. She could be mean.”
Why just pick on ‘bossy’? Today’s buzz around the banbossy.com campaign is OK, I guess. It certainly does no harm and may even help some people to watch how they use that word or how they hear it. I can’t say that I’ve heard ‘bossy’ exclusively used towards women, but when it’s used with a man in mind, I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be just as pejorative.
Isn’t any word used as a put down towards another abusive?
The other day, in a couples session, I asked a woman who just called her husband ‘crazy’ to stop and think about what she had done. What response could he possibly have to that except to get defensive? “I’m not crazy!” As I pointed out to both of them, there are certain words that are conversation stoppers, or worse, hurtful button pushers. Avoid them!
“Be impeccable in your word” is the 1st Agreement in traditional Toltec wisdom. When we do our best to use our words well, for good, we can change not only ourselves but influence those around us. Words have great power; white magic when delivered with openness and love, or black, when delivered from a place of fear or hate. That’s why that classic, old saying of “Think before you speak” remains true today.
Elvira G. Aletta, PhD, Founder & CEO
Executive & Personal Coaching, Individual & Relationship Counseling
Life gave Dr. Aletta the opportunity to know what it’s like to hurt physically and emotionally. After an episode of serious depression in her mid-twenties, Dr. Aletta was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that relapsed throughout her adulthood. While treatable, the cure was often as hard to bear as the disease. Later she was diagnosed with scleroderma, another chronic illness.
Throughout, Dr. Aletta battled with anxiety. Despite all this, Dr. Aletta wants you to know, you can learn to engage in life again on your terms.
Good therapy helped Dr. Aletta. She knows good therapy can help you. That’s why she created Explore What’s Next.
Today Dr. Aletta enjoys mentoring the EWN therapists, focusing on coaching and psychotherapy clients, writing and speaking. She is proud and confident that Explore What’s Next can provide you with therapists who will help you regain a sense of safety, control and joy.
716.308.6683 | draletta@explorewhatsnext.com
I agree that we should be nice to people. The world is a better place when we don’t call each other names and put people down. However we still do.
I guess I’m just getting old but “bossy” to me isn’t a gender put down. Don’t we still call males “bossy?” Isn’t someone who is a jerk still a jerk?
Try Googling Shakespearean Insults and look at the number of results you find.
When we want to insult people don’t we usually find a way to do it even if a word isn’t in fashion?
I agree that we should encourage girls, young women and even women of a certain age to reach their full potential and not call them names. I think the same thing about left handed people, immigrants, people who use Linux, people who don’t like hockey, my sister and even people who are just like me.
Shouldn’t we have a campaign to stop people from being rude and mean to each other or is that just silly?
Here’s my suggestion. Let’s have Hollywood Stars, Rock Stars, NASCAR drivers, etc put their money into public education and include a manners class in public education and see if our society is nicer to everyone (including girls).
*Rant Over*
We are in agreement. Words can be cruel regardless of gender. My hope, as I believe is your’s, is that people be aware of how words have power to nurture and encourage as well as hurt and humiliate. “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Now there’s wishful thinking. Words can hurt and cause lasting damage as I see nearly every day in my practice. Until the Hollywood and rock stars of the world figure out priorities, we can each be role models in our own little sphere.
As for Shakespeare’s insults, they are the best! Check these out.