Perceptions and Personality

"It's hard to be a Christian woman and have a strong personality", one of my friends said to me. I had never thought about it, but since then I have had many a conversation with Christian women about how to be a Godly woman yet keep their personalities - especially if they have stronger ones. When I got to thinking about my co-worker's statement I thought "It truly is a challenge!". I don't know if we are just dealing with perceptions, but the perception is (and possibly a reality) that if you are a woman and a Christian then you should not have a strong personality, not speak up too much or share your opinions often. Fortunately my experience both at a graduate school where I was the minority being a woman as well as the church I work at have proved opposite of this perception. I found myself drawn to places where I was valued for who I was yet also challenged (and rightly so) by both men and women if I was bullying, making false assumptions or when my strength might be hurting another. That was and continues to be a blessing.
Some of the friends I have are in the business world where to be strong and to be a bully is perceived to be the "way to the top." When you have a strong personality one of the last things you want is to be stepped on. It does happen and sometimes we are supposed to let it happen. I even cringe at the last portion of that sentence. You know what I'm talking about if you are a strong personality. It is a choice and making that humble choice requires strength beyond even what we strong personalities have.