Even Lorde’s confronted workplace sexism, and she totally shut it down

Since her skyrocket to fame, singer-songwriter Lorde has become the Patron Saint of Writing Songs About Her Generation (as well as the Poster Child for Rocking a Dark Lip Like a Boss). Lorde is just so comfortably and unapologetically herself it seems near impossible that things like peer pressure and societal expectations (you know, the stuff that freaks us mere mortals out) would faze her at all.

That said, in a recent interview with the Telegraph in London, the pop star explains that being a teenage girl who wields an enormous amount of power is a position that comes with its own very particular set of challenges; she is also aware that just being a woman in power is threatening for many people:

“People find it difficult to watch women being assertive or dominant,” Lorde explains.

“I know I’ve encountered it over and over and over, people thinking I’m being difficult for demanding a high standard. You encounter it basically daily when you’re the boss . . . and you’re a girl. Especially when I’m only just at drinking age and everyone’s like, ‘Why are you telling me what to do?’”

You’d think the whole “global superstar” thing would trump the whole “girl problem.” But the sad reality is, that’s not quite the way the world works . . . at least not yet.

Lorde, being the born ladyboss that she is, has found a way to work around these sexist (and ageist!) obstacles.

” . . . I’m lucky enough that I work with a really great team, and I’ve managed to weed out the people who don’t want to be led by a 17- or 18-year-old girl. The people who work with me are happy to be working with me, and under me sometimes, which is a scary thing for a lot of adults.”

Ladybosses of the world, take a page from Lorde’s book and hire a team that will judge you and respect you based on your actions, not your age or gender. Anyone who’s going to be ageist and sexist can just pack their bags and go work for a boss who is a little less awesome.

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