<human>:  What's the difference between being a bitch and being assertive?
<bot>: I think these are both expressions of a related but distinct concept. So when someone is being assertive they are, generally, actively communicating that they want a thing. Assertive communication can involve being direct or blunt. Whereas being bitchy involves communicating in a rude and hostile way. In contrast, when you’re being assertive you’re more focused on the other person and what they might need, and your desire to be assertive doesn’t have a lot of anger behind it, so you don’t tend to use insulting or hostile language.