I now know I shouldn't have left the newspaper cutting on the coffee table. The one I snipped out of the paper with a view to penning a few words about its contents. I should have known that my husband would see it and link the piece with me.

You see, it was all about this new breed of female - so-called Dragon Women, who, as the name suggests, are hostile, aggressive, loud and rude. I knew he would identify me in the descriptions of women who, as the piece - taken from a new book - says, have "body language so hostile it screams," who insist that they are always right "with no room for discussion," and who "are not just nags but character-demolishers".

Yet, while he would be quite right on all counts, I don't see myself as a dragon at all. For a start, I'm quite a nervous person, not very confident, and certainly not rude or aggressive. That is, when I'm not dealing with my husband. The book, by a leading female divorce lawyer, is all about how today's women behave when they're with men, in particular our partners.

And, as we all know, they bring out the worst in us. Even the meekest, mildest woman can turn into a fire-breathing beast when living under the same roof as a bloke.

Nagging wives are dragons only to their husbands. In my opinion the genuine, bona-fide Dragon Woman is the one who puts the fear of God into both sexes, the woman who can reduce you to a quivering wreck simply by looking in your direction. Generally speaking, she appears in a number of guises:

Doctors' receptionist: Women in this job are renowned for their hostility. On occasion I have had to pluck up courage even to ring for an appointment, knowing that I'd have to suffer the usual rebuff: "Sorry, we're full. There's nothing until next March. Who do you want to see? Sorry, Dr Potts is busy all week, and next week. Who is it again? Is it urgent? Can't it wait?" I've been known to ring up with a cold and hang up with a nervous breakdown. Thank-fully, the majority of those at my present local practice are extremely under-standing, helpful and friendly.

PE teachers: They spend their lives barking orders and can't break the habit. Their voices can carry the length of ten football pitches. My ears still ring with the foghorn-like bellow: "HELEN MEAD, GET MOVING!!!".

Senior level local sports team (tennis, squash, football) captains: Usually very manly in physique and dress, they make you shake in your boots with their strict manner and adherence to long-abandoned rules.

Managing directors' secretaries: Do their training with the SAS. They will do anything - including abuse you verbally and reduce you to tears - before they put you through to the boss. As the first line of defence to a busy individual, I can understand their need to keep all and sundry at bay. But do they really have to make you feel so small and unimportant?

Shop assistants: Not just any shop assistant. The true dragon of retail inhabits those small concessions in department stores. These women make you feel self-conscious just looking at their wares. I remember trying on a pair of trousers in one such store in Middlesbrough, when a fire-breather not unlike Mrs Slocombe burst into the changing room and yelled "HAVEN'T YOU GOT IT ON YET, THERE'S PEOPLE WAITING," before grabbing hold of the zip and yanking it skywards, then shouting "DO YOU WANT THEM OR NOT?" I felt utterly submissive and bought them because I was scared.

Mother-in-laws: I've covered this subject before, at length. In my experience, the worst dragon of all. But, after years of being belittled by mine, I'm fighting back and turning my own dragon woman traits on her.

That's the only way to beat the dragon woman - give her a taste of her own medicine. Next time you ring the doctors, bellow: "MRS SMITH TO SEE DR POTTS, MONDAY 9AM, OK." And slam the phone down.