Double meanings

This one bothered me. Virago.

Every day I get sent a 'word of the day' from dictionary.com. Sometimes they're words I've never heard of and know I'll never use. Sometimes they're words I already know and use. And sometimes there's a new spin on a word I wasn't aware of. Take the two meanings of virago:
1. A woman of extraordinary stature, strength, and courage.
2. A woman regarded as loud, scolding, ill-tempered, quarrelsome, or overbearing.

At times like this I wish I was as articulate and insightful as Jenny Crusie - unfortunately I'm not. But I think it's sad and probably not all that unusual that a word that first meant a strong woman came to have the more common meaning of overbearing and quarrelsome. It's surely some kind of indictment on how women were "supposed" to be percieved, and that if they stepped out of that feminine, possibly subservient role they came to be regarded negatively by men, and perhaps even other women.

Anyway, let me state here that I wish to be a virago-strong and courageous. And I can do that whilst being kind and gentle.