The Controversial ‘Girlboss’ Feminist That Captures Each Zodiac Sign

If you were following pop culture during the 2010s, you probably remember the empowering, yet polarizing phenomenon of being a “girlboss.” Celebrating the idea that women can and should have power in a capitalist world, “girlboss” culture was aspirational. Now? It’s usually seen as an trite symbol of neoliberalism. Love ’em or hate ’em, there’s a controversial girlboss inside each and every one of us. In fact, you definitely share your zodiac sign with at least one famous girlboss, so let’s dive into it.

Since the all-female crew on the recent Blue Origin flight was shot into outer space, “girlboss” discourse has been revived from the edge of death. As a millennial who graduated high school in 2010, this instantly brought back memories of books like Lean In (2013)—Sheryl Sandberg’s workplace manifesto that encourages women to “sit at the table”—Hillary Clinton’s 2016 run for presidency, and hordes of women donning bright pink pussy hats at the Women’s March. Back then, everyone wanted to be a girlboss. These days, many have deemed it cringeworthy at best and completely tone deaf at worst.

While the start of girlboss-dom began in the early 2010s, it wasn’t until Sophia Amuroso—founder of Nasty Gal—solidified the term with the release of her memoir #GIRLBOSS (2015) that it became a known concept. In her work, she details her rags to riches story that begins with her teenage years spent committing petty theft, hitchhiking, and learning how to sell clothes on eBay. Through grit and a downright refusal to give up, she pulled herself up by her combat boot straps and built her own online retail empire, inspiring other hungry millennial women to follow in her footsteps and build theirs.

In its heyday, being a “girlboss” meant scoffing at a corporate world that has largely elevated and centered men by building your own castle instead. It meant being independent and capable of thriving without a man at your side. It meant women were actually being seen and taking up space in positions that have traditionally belonged to men.

Since the inception of the word “girlboss,” criticisms of late-stage capitalism and the damage it can cause for the world—whether women are leading the charge or not—have put things in a new perspective. In many ways, the “girlboss” grind fails to address the intersectionality of what different women experience, depending on factors such as race, gender, sexuality, economic class, and able-bodiedness. It places a stronger emphasis on individualism while detracting from togetherness, as girlboss culture essentially copy and pastes the same structure and hierarchy of the patriarchal world, but replaces our boring male leaders with charismatic female leaders instead. Sure, it might feel exciting and inspiring, like the playing field is more fair. But is it really addressing the deeply rooted issues our society faces? That remains to be seen.

The controversial ‘girlboss’ that captures each zodiac sign

Regardless of how you feel about “girlboss” culture, you know there’s a part of you who can’t help but admire a woman that ignores all the haters and goes for the goal instead. I bet there’s also a part of you who can’t wait to roll your eyes at the next “girlboss” who enters the scene. Both parts of you are valid. Here’s the controversial girlboss that captures each zodiac sign: