Be Nasty Day is celebrated every year on March 8. A fun, light-hearted holiday, this day isn’t meant to be taken seriously at all. Be Nasty Day is a great tongue-in-cheek way to celebrate being a little less polite. Sometimes, society takes the idea of politeness too far. Terrible people like to take advantage of the social expectation for politeness and use it for their own means. So if you’re the kind of person who is too polite, use this day as an excuse to break away and say “no” when you want to.

History of Be Nasty Day

Be Nasty Day is one of the lesser-known holidays. A day set aside to be nasty, this is meant to be a lighthearted way to observe the darker side of human nature. Being nice all the time is great, but occasionally it can get a bit boring. At times we have to be nasty, so we can maintain our boundaries with people, no matter where or who they are. From family, friends, and even workplaces, sometimes people don’t get the hint. Moreover, being nice seems to encourage people to argue, even if you’re saying no to something. A lot of people think that saying no politely is an invitation for them to convince you otherwise. In these cases, it’s not only important but necessary to be nasty so that you won’t be harassed.The word ‘nasty’ has also taken a completely different connotation since Hillary Clinton was called that by her political opponent. Ever since, the word has become a feminist rallying cry, with women all over the world encouraged to be nasty to hold on to their rights and fight for what they believe in. The Nasty Woman has become part of memes, art and performing arts, books and magazines, and other popular culture. The Nasty woman Project took off, becoming an important part of the feminist movement, and working towards achieving gender equality. As the movement states, sometimes being nasty is what it takes to do what you need to do, and stand up for what you believe in, because there’s no other way to make people listen. 

Be Nasty Day timeline

1986
Janet Jackson Releases ‘Nasty’

The song is later referenced in the Nasty Woman movements and is about self-defense, and developing an attitude to protect yourself from abuse.

1999
Britney Spears Covers ‘Nasty’

As part of her “...Baby One More Time” Tour, Britney Spears covers a medley of Janet Jackson songs, including the hit ‘Nasty.’

2016
Hillary Clinton is Called a ‘Nasty Woman’

Clinton’s political opponent calls her a nasty woman for wanting to tax people, and the phrase is immediately claimed by women.

2017
Nasty Woman Movement Raises Funds

The movement that began in 2016 grows and raises funds for a number of feminist causes including Planned Parenthood.

Be Nasty Day FAQs

What is a nasty person?

Someone who is unpleasant or unkind is called nasty. 

What is a nice nasty person?

A nice nasty person is someone with the ability to look perfectly pleasant while being rude to the people around them. 

How do you deal with a nasty person?

Draw your boundaries clearly, and make sure the person knows and experiences consequences for their actions. 

Be Nasty Day Activities

  1. Be rude to people who’re rude

    Be Nasty Day is a great way to give people a dose of their own medicine. If you know someone who’s habitually nasty, be nasty back.

  2. Be nasty on your own behalf

    Take this opportunity to stick up for yourself against people who’re running off their mouths, and relying on you being too polite to stick up for yourself. Be nasty to them, and be on your own side.

  3. Help out the Nasty Woman Movement

    Stick it to the man and work for gender equality by pitching in with the fundraising and organizing efforts of the Nasty Woman Movement.

5 Facts About Be Nasty Day That Will Surprise You

  1. It’s celebrated with International Women’s Day

    With how many women have been called nasty, women are taking the word back, starting with celebrating Be Nasty Day on International Women’s Day.

  2. Nasty means something different now

    Since 2016, women have redefined nasty to mean intelligent, outspoken, and strong, and wear the description of nastiness with pride.

  3. People are nasty because they’re insecure

    Often, when people are being mean, it’s because of their own insecurities, so the simplest thing to do is to ignore them.

  4. There’s a book on Nasty Women

    “Nasty Women Project: Voices From The Resistance” is a book with stories from the most prominent voices in the Nasty Woman Movement.

  5. There’s a lot of cool merchandise

    From t-shirts, wines, lipgloss, to card games, a lot of products were designed related to the Nasty Woman Movement, which is very popular with women across the country.

Why We Love Be Nasty Day

  1. We want to stick up for ourselves

    Sometimes, we have to be nasty to other people to be nice to ourselves. We can’t do this every day, so a day to celebrate being nasty is perfect.

  2. We recognize that people are human

    No one can be nice all the time. Sometimes life just gets us down, and we lash out by being nasty, and this day is an ideal opportunity to acknowledge our humanity.

  3. We want to wear fun t-shirts

    The Nasty Woman Movement has some cool merchandising that we love to wear. We want to support the feminist movement for gender equality.

Be Nasty Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 March 8 Wednesday
2024 March 8 Friday
2025 March 8 Saturday
2026 March 8 Sunday
2027 March 8 Monday