More than half of female entrepeneurs have experienced sexist labels
(Picture: metro.co.uk)

If you’re a woman, it’s pretty likely that at least one point in your life, you’ve had a label applied to you that you don’t reckon would be applied to a man.

Maybe you were called ‘bossy’ for taking charge. You were deemed ‘feisty’ instead of ‘assertive’.

It’s not the most frustrating part of being a woman in a world where sexism still exists (that award can go to rape culture, people’s attempts to take away our reproductive rights, the gender pay gap, or all the other awful stuff women still have to deal with in 2017. Take your pick), but it is bloody annoying. It’s a niggling irritation. An insult you’re not sure you can call out, but would rather hadn’t been slapped on your back.

The good/depressing news? You’re not alone.

(Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)

New research from NatWest’s Women in Business programme has revealed that more than half (52%) of UK female entrepreneurs have had to deal with stereotypical gender labels in the workplace.

A fifth had been described as ‘opinionated’, while one in ten had been called ‘feisty’ or ‘vocal’ at work.

Yes, we know these words aren’t as outwardly awful as swearwords, or as irritating as being called ‘darling’ when you’re at work, but they’re still examples of language coded in gender. Seriously – how often do you hear men being called ‘feisty’?

(Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)

On a reassuring note, the research also found that while more than half of female entrepreneurs have experienced sexist labels, a fifth of them haven’t let the sexist nonsense hold them back.

In fact, around a fifth said these labels made them more determined to succeed.

Which is great, really, and is just proof that women are badasses who won’t let nonsense stop them from working hard and being bosses.

But it definitely doesn’t mean that we should keep letting sexist, stereotypical labels slide.

The research found that 31% of Londoners felt self-conscious when branded with these terms, while 17% of female entrepreneurs in Wales said hearing these sexist labels made them feel less confident in their work ability.

(Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)

Helena Hills, the co-founder and CEO at TrueStart Coffee, told metro.co.uk that during her career in software, she saw a lot of casual sexism.

‘It’s so ingrained that I don’t think anyone realizes they’re doing anything ‘wrong’, or hurtful,’ says Helena.

‘It’s so brazen and often part of the culture, what a woman looks like or the relationship she’s in is often more important than her capability to excel in a role.

‘It was usually lewd comments directly to my face that I was expected to either laugh off or ignore completely.

(Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)

‘I don’t tend to take any crap, but I noticed that once the respect was there in a working relationship, these comments to my face went from being about me to being about other women and expecting me to “join in the fun”.’

Helena doesn’t think the answer is as simple as banning terminology, but instead wants people to stop discussing characteristics or behaviours in women that they just wouldn’t discuss if the person were a man. Fair enough, really.

‘Nothing will change if we turn a blind eye as individuals,’ she explains.

‘The onus is on all of us to call someone out if they’re saying something inappropriate. Don’t be part of the problem.’

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