Girls have a harder go in this world if they do not know how to be assertive. When girls are not raised to be assertive, they may struggle with boundaries and are much easier to take advantage of. However, when you raise a strong, assertive woman, you can rest assured that she can take care of herself.
So, how do you raise an assertive girl? Rachel Simmons, the author of the book,’ The Curse of the Good Girl,” writes that females are raised early in life and taught to not share their voices or their opinions. That we are taught to quieten our voice, which in turn, can make it hard for us to be heard. Thankfully, some helpful tips can help you to raise a strong, independent woman who can stand on her own and be assertive with her voice and what she needs from life.
1. Encourage a growth mindset.
When you have a growth mindset, you are ready for all the challenges’ life presents to you. When challenges arise, you look at them as a new opportunity, rather than a failure. You can help your daughter with this, by helping her tackle new challenges head-on with an adaptable mindset.
2. Help her to understand her worth.
Your daughter needs to understand her worth and know herself. Help her find what she is good at and help her to understand her strengths and weaknesses. When you notice a strength, encourage her to grow in that area.
3. Encourage her to build a support network.
Help your daughter to understand the value of having a small group of good friends she can lean on. People need support networks, and when she has a support network, she will always have a group of people who can stand behind her when she questions herself.
4. Build her emotional vocabulary.
Simmons strongly encourages working on an emotional vocabulary, because knowing and understanding your feelings is of the utmost importance to understanding your relationships and being able to hold your own in them. When you are talking to your daughter, express how you feel and why. Always be sure to label emotions and help her to label hers.
5. Role play.
If your daughter is struggling with being assertive, sit down and role-play with her. Allow her to practice what she might say to whoever, to you.
6. Emphasize the difference between aggression, assertiveness, and passive-aggressiveness.
Explain what the difference is between being assertive, being aggressive, and being passive-aggressive. Then, explain why being assertive is the best approach.