Labels are part of life – from elementary to high school to adults in the workforce…
We are always being judged and labeled by those around us.
Labels applied to us as individuals can be compared to fashion labels…
Fashion labels mark a piece of clothing as a certain brand – Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger…
When it comes to labels used on individuals though, the marking is different. People might label others as nerdy, a liar, strong, or trustworthy.
Our labels help define who we are and what we are known for.
But, what is the problem with labels? They are not always accurate.
Just as someone can place a different fashion label on a piece of clothing to try and pass it off as another brand, people can incorrectly label us as something we aren’t in an attempt to make us less marketable – most commonly in the workforce.
Furthermore, labels can be applied to an entire group of people…
For example, women. Even in the 21st century, women still experience scenarios where they are discriminated against due to a stereotypical gender label placed on them.
As a woman in the workforce in the 21st century, do you still find yourself the victim of some of these common gender stereotypical labels?
- Women are too feisty to be in charge.
- Women are too emotionally driven.
- Women are too confident enough.
These are just a few of the challenges that women might come in contact with at some point in the entrepreneur world.
In a recent study done in the UK, it was revealed that 20 percent of the women surveyed said they had been called “opinionated” at some point while conducting business, and almost a fifth of the businesswomen said the term “self-assured” had been used to describe them.
Do you see something wrong with this picture?
First:
Why are we still directing hate and discrimination toward women entrepreneurs?
Women now make up 40 percent of new entrepreneurs in the United States alone, demonstrating that we are a force to be reckoned with.
Second:
Why do we use even otherwise positive terms as a negative term when describing women entrepreneurs?
The term “self-assured” is just another term for confident. Shouldn’t we be encouraging women to be confident?
How are women overcoming these challenges?
While it would be nice if women could simply make the stereotypical gender labels disappear, that is not a fathomable goal. So, how do women entrepreneurs continue to rise up and overcome the challenges of these stereotypical gender labels placed on them? By turning the labels around.
As addressed above, some labels that can be taken as a compliment are actually be using as a negative connotation. However, women entrepreneurs continue to use this to turn the labels back around on the others.
For example, instead of taking the term “self-assured” as an insult, they use it to feed their confidence and then turn that into teaching other women how to stand up and be confident in an industry and business world that might discourage them from being an entrepreneur.
Pay it forward.
As an effort to encourage others to overcome the labels, strong women entrepreneurs are becoming mentors for other women who would also like to step into the business world. This proves everyone wrong by demonstrating their power and knowledge and also feeds the future of women entrepreneurship.
Setting high goals and crushing them.
Today, women are using the negative connotations as motivation to fuel their newfound joy of power. By setting extremely high – but most likely achievable – goals, then meeting those goals, they demonstrate their capabilities.
Final Word
As a woman in the workforce today, with labels such as “Girl Boss” being used as a marketing ploy now, it is important that we rise above and show that we are not just a “Girl Boss” but we are “The Boss.”
Strength to overcome gender labels is found within. Rather than using the labels to hinder your dreams, use them to rise above.
