Why a little sass is a good thing

Being “sassy” is really underrated these days. A lot of people (especially men) associate being sassy with being a brat – or with having a bad attitude that’s totally uncalled for. Sure, sometimes sass can come out at the wrong time – but for the most part, I think it gets a bad rap.

For me, sassy is the fine line between a woman that knows what she wants and a bitch. A sassy woman doesn’t get walked all over, is totally confident in who she is and won’t take “no” for an answer if she knows she deserves a “yes.” Sassy women are VPs of companies, politicians and entrepreneurs. They’re tough, resilient and not afraid to speak their mind – even if it’s the minority.

Needless to say, I’m proud to be a little sassy.

Tina Fey said it best when she defended Hilary Clinton’s bad rap for being too tough a few years back. Don’t get me wrong – I was in no way a Clinton supporter, but I enjoyed what she said during an SNL skit:
 
“Bitches get stuff done.”

And it’s true if you think about it. All of the great women in history – even the women today who are CEOs and top dogs in large companies – didn’t get to where they are today by being “nice.” I’m not saying we shouldn’t be nice, because we should – but we have to be unafraid of being tough. While the days of female persecution are for the most part behind us, I think there are still a lot of men out there today who have a hard time with a strong female personality. I see it all the time – men immediately assume that just because you’re a cute girl, you’re brainless.

Wrong. Just because I prefer 4 ½ inch heels on a Saturday night doesn’t mean I don’t also kick ass at my job.

Another example are the beloved characters of "Sex and the City." Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte are all sassy in their own way – whether it be their careers, love lives or personal aspirations, each of their characters is willing to put their foot down if need be. Hence, why most of us love each of them for different reasons.

So the next time someone tells you you’re sassy – say “thank you,” because I would surely rather be sassy than sit silently on the sidelines.

What do you think? Is there a stipulation against strong women today? And if so, are men intimidated by it?