http://mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/chap13/chap13e.htm
"All of us should insist on being treated fairly; we have to stand up for our rights without violating the rights of others. This means tactfully, justly, and effectively expressing our preferences, needs, opinions and feelings. Psychologists call that being "assertive," as distinguished from being unassertive (weak, passive, compliant, self-sacrificing) or aggressive (self-centered, inconsiderate, hostile, arrogantly demanding). As mentioned in chapter 8, the Women's Movement since the 1960's has been a powerful influence on millions of women: women have gotten better career opportunities, more rights to control their bodies, more help from husbands with child care and housework, and so on. These changes happened because women assertively stood up for their rights."
PLEASE GO TO THE ABOVE WEBSITE TO LEARN WHAT'S INVOLVED IN LEARNING HOW TO BECOME ASSERTIVE...
STEP ONE: Realize where changes are needed and believe in your rights.
STEP TWO: Figure out appropriate ways of asserting yourself in each specific situation that concerns you.
STEP THREE: Practice giving assertive responses.
STEP FOUR: Try being assertive in real life situations.