The voices of powerful women across the country can still be heard ringing in our ears from the Women’s March on Washington. On January 21, over five million women worldwide and over one million in Washington, D.C., vocalized their reassertion of their essential rights and beliefs in the hope of a better future for women.

Across the nation, other women have followed suit. In small forums or larger presentations aimed at mass audiences, women continue to encourage each other to stand up for their beliefs. The pink pussy hats are still making appearances in our Facebook feeds, along with messages of empowerment.

At the Golden Globes, we watched Meryl Streep offer an ode to art and inclusivity in front of an international audience. She focused on the major issues seen in today’s politics, unabashedly calling out the perceived flaws in our nation’s president. Even after receiving hateful tweets from the man himself, she stood by her words, declaring bravely, “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

In the Senate, Republicans invoked a little known rule to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren in the middle of a speech criticizing a potential Attorney General nominee. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell claimed her speech was too “lengthy,” going on in his own lengthy way to add, “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Little did they know this would become the new battle cry of feminists everywhere.

The issues seen already in 2017 have inspired an incredibly powerful group of women to truly speak their minds, but unfortunately, there is still a lot of hatred left to overcome. We are watching a new type of woman. One who not only demands respect, but also wants acceptance, independence, understanding, and kindness. But with this surge of independent women, there also comes a group who is opposed to this demonstration of strength.

This past Valentine’s Day, author Suzanne Venker released a book called The Alpha Female’s Guide to Men & Marriage. In her controversial book, she explains that playing “beta” to her husband’s alpha was the best way to maintain their relationship.

"Society is creating a new crop of alpha women who are unable to love," announced Venker. “There are several reasons why, but it's in large part due to women having been groomed to be leaders rather than to be wives. Simply put, women have become too much like men. They're too competitive. Too masculine. Too alpha.”

Sadly, Venker isn’t the only one to think this way. Dale Partridge, an author and founder of startupcamp.com, stated shortly after the women’s march, “Their [women’s] protests are also pleas to us for more love, for more value, and for more leadership.” In a clear nod to the passivity expected from conservative women continued, “Remember, when men become boys, women become men. And when women become men, our ladies carry our weight at the cost of their femininity. In turn, our dormancy is robbing what makes them so beautiful and distinctive in the first place.” These theories could not be more wrong.

Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with girls and women. It is a product of our society, a set of expectations, not a static concept. We have learned both males and females can exhibit feminine traits, but men with those traits, as well as women without them, are shamed in our society. But this warped reality should not be accepted and allowed to diminish women’s contributions to society.

By classifying women as “beta,” we completely constrict women’s roles, casting aside any aspirations towards positions of power. I have been lucky enough in my life not to be treated like a “beta” by anyone in my life. Instead, the people around me have taught me that I am a valuable human being, entitled to an equal opportunity to make my contribution to the world, not relegated to a female subservient role. I am not dependent on a lesser way of affecting the world around me through the males in my life. My femininity, as well as any other woman’s in our world, does not hinge on whether or not I am desirable to anyone. We are not subject to the subjective judgment of the world, be it male or female, of our worthiness. If this view of femininity is accurately depicted by the “beta female,” making subservience a desirable characteristic, then personally, I don't want it.

In no way, shape, or form are these women even attempting to step into masculine roles. These women are stepping into roles because they want to. “Nevertheless, she persisted” has transformed from its negative connotation to a rallying cry of hope. We should not condemn these women for their boldness, but instead be proud of these women for speaking up, for commenting on the issues that truly affect both them and the world around them. I want to be one of the ones who persists.