Trying to pretend like this isn’t a real dynamic is just specious. When men are tough, that is considered strong and correct and admirable. When women display those exact same qualities, they are considered bitchy and strident -even by other women.

On Being A Very Direct Woman In A Passive-Aggressive World

Assertiveness in women is perceived negatively

• Women receive “negative personality criticism”, such as being called bossy or told to “watch their tone” in around 75% of performance reviews. Men, on the other hand, rarely do.
• Women who are assertive or forceful are perceived as 35% less competent than non-assertive women, according to a 2015 VitalSmarts study.
• Women are called bossy in the workplace more often than men are, according to a US study.