What it Means to be a “girlboss”

I love the word “Girlboss”. I use it at least once, if not multiple times a day. There is just no other word that I think describes how I feel about myself so accurately sometimes. Truthfully I had originally started to use it ironically, and then I simply couldn’t stop saying it. While I think it’s a great word, and can be used to empower women, I also think some use it as a way to set a certain standard which can put a lot of pressure on women.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of a girlboss is “an ambitious and successful woman (especially a business women or entrepreneur)”. The wording of this alone bothers me. What do they mean “especially”? Do they know how many careers there are that don’t involve being a business woman or entrepreneur? To me, it gives off that you have to work in a male dominated field to be a girlboss. Is a business woman more of a girlboss than a single mother working a job as a waitress?

Even in our own terminology, there are standards set on women. To be considered a girlboss you have to be independent and wealthy and put together. While I find all of that to be great, and if those are your goals in life, more power to you. That just simply isn’t where I’d set the bar to title someone as a girlboss.

You want to know when I say I’m “girlbossing” for the day? When I get out of bed and make it to all my classes. When I can make it through an entire day and not cry. I feel like a girlboss when I pass an Italian 102 exam, or can get my slick-back bun fully flat, or can take my car to get inspected without my parents.

Being a girl or a woman is so hard as it is. We deal with so much on a daily basis. Then society wants to take an empowering word that makes us feel better about our day-to-day lives and give it a meaning that makes some women feel like they aren’t doing enough. I simply won’t stand for it.

If your dream is to be a trophy wife, or a stay at home mom, or a business woman, or a baker, or a real estate agent, or a singer, or a writer, or a social worker, or absolutely anything else… you go girlboss. If you got out of bed today, congratulations, that is SO girlboss of you. Even if you didn’t get out of bed, every girlboss needs their rest and you can get at them tomorrow.

Empowering words should stay empowering. There shouldn’t be hidden, or clear, standards on women. Waking up every day should be enough. Doing what you think is best for you is what being a girlboss is.