To find the term "girl boss" horribly patronising

[lllllllllll]

I'm seeing this phrase (along with lady boss) crop up more and more recently.

My objections are firstly that I'm a woman, not a girl, thank you very much - as are all the women I've seen "girl boss" used in reference to.

Secondly, a man is never a "boy boss" or a "man boss" - he's just "the boss". Why does the female equivalent need a qualifier in front of it?

Thirdly, the whole phrase just has an offensive ring to it - as if a woman is doing a man's job. The word actress seems to be used far less these days and yet we're happy to use the term girl boss?

I'm sure it never used to be a thing - where has it come from and AIBU to hate it?

Our team (most of whom are based in the US) call our manager "boss lady"

It makes me want to scream!!!

Where are you encountering this???

I’ve never seen the term used at all, OP. Could you give some examples of where you’ve come across it?
And yes, it’s sexist, patronising and offensive.

This is old. Tulisa had this tattooed on her forearm yonks ago.

I can't get het up about it. Just avoid the types that use it.

I have never come across this expression.

Never heard it. Would object , initially as a quiet word pointing out the sexism. The male default and the infantilising of women.

Yuck and bossbabe, mumpreneur

Quite like boy boss though. Might start using that. 'Do you have a boy boss? How quaint!'

mumpreneur

There’s a special place in hell for whichever misogynist twat coined that term.

Girl, female, lady etc. as a qualifier are so belittling of a woman’s position.

It’s cringey as all heck, but I’ve only seen it used by young women to refer to themselves.

Hi OP. Your post resonates with me hugely and I want you to know I share your frustration with this term!

I own a beauty salon and, like many other businesses, use social media to promote and market the business. I notice that many other women who own businesses, especially in the same field as myself, constantly use #girlboss #bosslady on their Instagram and Facebook posts and I agree that it is quite patronising.

That said, despite the nature of my work I am a bit of a tomboy which my peers and clients all find fairly amusing all things considered! I also consider myself a feminist so agree with PP who have said that you never hear the term "man boss" etc.

Each to their own I suppose, but yes. I'm not a fan!

I actually saw it recently used in an advert on the tube, for office supplies or some such like. It was clearly targeting female entrepreneurs but I couldn't help being annoyed by the term.

I'm not your girl boss, I'm your boss! (I wanted to say to whoever designed it).

YANBU. In my experience it's usually used by MLM people or mums trying to sell little crafts, not highly successful leaders in industry.

Glad it's not just me @amijustparanoidorjuststoned! I'm also seeing it crop up more on social media too.

I've never come across it, maybe because I work with grownup professionals.
(My manager is a woman. I refer to her as 'my manager').

I only ever see it used by MLM #bossbabes

I do not like it.

I absolutely agree. I saw something similar on an advert on the tube recently (girl boss/girly boss or similar) and it just seeks to emphasise that women in leadership should be considered something outside of the norm. Gave me absolutely rage, although might have been a slight overreaction due to the very sweaty packed tube.

Come to think, it might have been appropriate for the confident child who took over running DDs party when they were in reception, but other than that....nope. Not on.

Ugh.

Oh, of course.

MLM BossBabes.

Dear god! Never heard this term. I run the (very small) office I'm based in, and I'm fairly sure it wouldn't occur to anyone who works for me to use that term (even though they are all millennials). And it would be a cold day in hell before I'd use that term to describe myself...

it just seeks to emphasise that women in leadership should be considered something outside of the norm.

Precisely!

Yanbu.
Boss is enough.

Yes makes me vom!

MLM BossBabes.

Snort.