In their most simple form, words are a collection of letters. Words can inspire and motivate, but they also have the power to degrade.

Take, for example, the word “bossy.” A boy would not be called “bossy.” Instead, he would be called a leader when he asserts himself. Girls who assert themselves in leadership positions are not as respected and people regard their displays of leadership as “bossy.”

A new campaign called “Ban Bossy,” started by Lean In and Girls Scouts, aims to eliminate the use of the word “bossy” to describe girls who hold leadership positions. The campaign pledges to “ban bossy” and provides leadership resources for girls, parents, educators and managers.

The campaign cites a study that found calling girls “bossy” leads them to participate less in school. Because being called “bossy” starts at a young age, it affects girls through high school and into their adult lives.

Although this issue may not seem as prominent in our school, where many girls are community leaders, our society is still fraught with gender inequality. Women are still not recognized as leaders the way men are. In 2013, only 14.6 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs were women. Banning “bossy” means empowering girls to pursue their goals without the fear of being called “bossy.” It is up to us to bring the empowerment from our school to the greater community.

It is important to be clear that banning “bossy” does not justify rude leadership practices. Critics of the campaign argue people do not always practice respectful leadership. Those people should not be protected from criticism. The purpose of the campaign is to teach girls there is nothing wrong with taking charge.

As someone who has been called “bossy,” I know the detrimental effect it can have on someone’s confidence. It is necessary to “Ban Bossy” to ensure all girls feel they are encouraged to be the leaders they wish to be.