Courageous Conversation: Joining the #GirlBoss Debate

img_4753-2.jpg

Brand consultancy and design studio Single Malt has started an exciting series. The series, Courageous Conversation, covers topics from inequality, the gender pay gap and women in design right through to debates around “print is dead” and the struggle of the work/life balance.

Have you heard/seen the term #GIRLBOSS recently? Maybe Boss Babe or Boss Lady? 

Some well-known figures in our industry recently discussed their hatred of these terms and sparked much debate online around this. In this week’s courageous conversation we discuss our opinion and hopefully give you some food for thought.

I started out with an Instagram poll to see if people in my [albeit small] social following had an opinion. And turns out they did, 72% hated it! 

“#GirlBoss” started out with Sophia Amoruso, the founder of fashion brand Nasty Gal, who coined the phrase and started a whole brand around the hashtag. Amoruso’s movement includes a successful book on female empowerment and more recently an online community who “exist to redefine success for millennial women by providing the tools and connections they need to own their futures”, but her movement has sparked a backlash.

Many successful, respectable women are offended by it, and I understand why – Whether it be the patronising infantilization of women through the term “girl” or the out of date oppressive use of the word “boss”, women everywhere are commenting on the term, debating it and writing about it. So it only feels relevant to today that we comment.

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m an advocate for female empowerment. In our studio, I actively try to encourage autonomy and confidence. So I can see where the gender backlash comes from. Women don’t want to be defined by our gender. As a woman in a leadership role, you want to be celebrated for your efforts and actions as a leader despite your gender. Defining the boss role through gender is outdated and regressive to all the hard-working people who are working to earn their seat at the table – regardless of their gender.

But I truly think the innocent term #girlboss doesn’t need to get as much hate as it does.

OK, so I’m not denying the term could be misinterpreted. But, I truly believe if you are a strong woman [girl, or lady] in a leadership position, or if you started a company, or if you are killing it in your field, that should be celebrated, and it should be celebrated in whatever way you feel comfortable, whatever the phrase may be.

Fortune posted recently that 5% of CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies are women. That’s only 25 women out of all those 500 CEOs, so anything that encourages young women to work hard, get their hands dirty and achieve something should be advocated. After all the movement started with Sophia Amoruso and her rags to riches story, of how her ambition and hard work built her vintage store on eBay to a 100 million dollar company with 350 employees. 

I feel that this girl boss, boss babe attitude has become such a part of popular culture now. The phrase is all over Instagram, on clothing, it’s normalised. If we start letting it have negative connotations it could be more regressive than before. Why don’t we let the women who use the phrase own it and be proud of it, let it empower them, fire them up and feel liberated?

 Empowered women empower women. So if the phrase doesn’t sit right with you don’t use it, but don’t dampen the spirits of the women who do use it. Let’s celebrate those women, after all, it's our job to inspire the next generation of female leaders.

If you want to know more about the courageous conversation then check out our post here for a bit of background into why we started the series.

Check out our first two posts in the series here… Courageous Conversation: Where are all the Women in Design? and Courageous Conversation: With Carol Burrow

Enjoyed this? Read more from Single Malt Design LTD

Latest news

1

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders Ant and Dec and Amy and Chris Cheadle

Preston frozen dough brand has new celebrity shareholders

18 Jul 2025

2

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch Dave Scholes and Malcolm Ireland

Wellbeing focused co-working space with its own pub in Burnley gets ready for launch

18 Jul 2025

3

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed Flying Combat Air Demonstrator

UK's pioneering Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is revealed

17 Jul 2025

4

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company The Printed Cup Company

A fresh brew for The Printed Cup Company

17 Jul 2025

5

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International Joe Diston

Joe Diston from Beever and Struthers appointed to new Global IFRS leader for HLB International

17 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin