Is it OK for a woman to be aggressive at work? Some experts say that not only is it OK, but that it can be healthier both for the woman and for her relationships.

According to an article from MSNBC, women in a traditionally male workplace are sometimes perceived as weak and easily manipulated. And if they stand up for themselves, they can be called unpleasant or worse. But don't worry what others think, because being assertive, and sometimes aggressive, is better for you in the long run.

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"I think it has to do with our gender roles that are part and parcel of a patriarchal society," says Sumru Erkut, a senior research scientist and associate director of the Centre for Research on Women at Wellesley College. "Everyone has their place in society and by speaking up or being forward, a woman is defying her place."

In general, children who are aggressive, and learn to funnel that aggression into socially acceptable roles, tend to excel. Experts say that accomplishment requires aggression. The key to using aggression successfully, they add, is to use it in a balanced way and only as necessary to accomplish what you want.

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