It’s just a little over a year since “Jurassic World” was released 14 years after “Jurassic Park” captured the imagination of an entire generation. The film was met with acclaim for its strong, thrilling and fresh revival of the franchise and its stunning visual effects, but it received criticism for borrowing similar plot points that carried the original and its portrayal of a certain female protagonist.

A year later, you can still cruise through Tumblr and find attacks on Claire Dearing and the way her character was written. Complaints range from Dearing, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard, being able to run away from the Tyrannosaurus Rex in high heels without breaking an ankle to being the stereotypical “uptight-bossy-woman-in-charge.”

While these complaints are valid, and it is easy to see where fans get upset over an otherwise weak portrayal of a heroine, Dearing’s character still embodies the ferocity and determination of strong women everywhere. While those that wrote the film may have struggled to completely convey this to the audience and unfortunately relied on some typical gender roles to tell a story (such as the expectation that Dearing will become undoubtedly become a mother one day) there is still a lot that can be taken from her character.

At the beginning of the film, it is assumed that Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) will fit the “John Hammond” archetype for this new Jurassic tale. While he is an eccentric CEO that is oblivious to the deeper issues that threaten his otherwise perfect amusement park, it seems more like Dearing resembles Hammond in this film. She is the one running the park. She is the one calling the shots. She is the one speaking with the investors. She is in control of Jurassic World, and before the Indominus Rex incident, her performance was nearly flawless.

Dearing’s character develops most in the film, transforming from a cold and calculating businesswoman at the beginning of the film to a compassionate and courageous heroine at its end. After all, she is the one that saves the day by herding the Tyrannosaurus Rex to the climatic (and incredibly awesome) final battle with the Indominus Rex.

Comments about sexism and anti-feminism concerning Dearing sadden me when fans can look at her in the simplest form: she is a woman in power. She can do her job as well as any man can, and dare I say better than any man can—Hammond couldn't even get his vision for Jurassic Park fully off the ground (bless his soul). If Dearing can run a fully-functioning, high successful zoo filled with extinct creatures of this planet's past, what stops the strong females of this generation from following their own dreams?

Dearing realizes her true worth, potential, and strength by the end of the film. Walking into “Jurassic World” a year ago, I remember expecting to see Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) at the center of the drama. However, it was much more rewarding leaving the theater rooting for Claire Dearing after watching her story unfold. I do hope they bring her back for the (hopefully many) sequels to come.