Is there a huge difference between assertive and aggressive/pushy? I don't think so.
It's easy to act like it's black and white. People can either be 'strong' and stand up for themself which is good, or 'pushy jerks' which is bad. As if you can choose to be one or the other. The reality is there are huge shades of gray. Assertive people will always have the potential to cross the line into aggression, depending on who's judging them. There is a very fine line between confidence/assertion and aggression/bullying. It's entirely subjective and will differ from person to person. So saying guys should be 'confident' but not jerks (I know you didn't say that, but I hear it a lot) is just stupid.
It's easy to act like it's black and white. People can either be 'strong' and stand up for themself which is good, or 'pushy jerks' which is bad. As if you can choose to be one or the other. The reality is there are huge shades of gray. Assertive people will always have the potential to cross the line into aggression, depending on who's judging them. There is a very fine line between confidence/assertion and aggression/bullying. It's entirely subjective and will differ from person to person. So saying guys should be 'confident' but not jerks (I know you didn't say that, but I hear it a lot) is just stupid.
there's a big difference, but it just depends on how you interpret the words. There's nothing wrong with being assertive, at least not on my understanding, we need more people who will stand up for themselves and be strong. However I do agree that people can cross the line, but I think people who genuinely care for others will not be stupidly aggressive.