Ban Bossy is a self-censorship campaign launched in 2014 by LeanIn.org. The campaign criticizes the use of the word "bossy" to describe assertive girls and women, proposing that the word is stigmatizing and may discourage girls and women from seeking positions of leadership. Promotion Sponsored primarily by Sheryl Sandberg, LeanIn.org and the Girl Scouts, the campaign features prominent bossy women and various sponsors urging people to pledge not to use the word. Featured advocates who appear in Ban Bossy promotional material in addition to Sandberg include Jennifer Garner, Jane Lynch, Diane von Fürstenberg, Condoleezza Rice, Jimmie Johnson, Sinéad O'Connor, Arne Duncan, Anna Maria Chávez, Victoria Beckham, and Beyoncé, who stated "leadership is more important to boys than girls." The campaign website also features training material designed for schools, teachers, parents and children to further the project. Criticism The campaign has received criticism since its launch. Joan Rivers commented that she found the online movement to be "so stupid" and added, "I find it outrageous and I find it petty ... and I find we're so damn uptight in this country that this whole country is being divided." Phil Mason has drawn parallels between the banning of words and authoritarianism, observing that telling people what words they can or cannot use is inherently bossy. In The New Yorker, Margaret Talbot criticized the campaign itself as bossy and instead suggested reclaiming the word, much as has been done for "nerd" and "queer". References External links YouTube:Ban Bossy—I'm not bossy, I'm the boss 2010s in the United States Anti-bullying campaigns Self-censorship Public awareness campaigns Public service announcements of the United States Censorship in the United States First Amendment to the United States Constitution American advertising slogans 2014 neologisms