With the chaos and confusion of this past weekend, I took some time to think about what makes our country thrive despite the constant battles between partisan lines and political figures. What is it about America that unites us while some are still at each other’s throats? Why am I all of a sudden feeling proud to be an American while our country is more divided than it has been in decades?

I am proud to be an American because of what I saw unfold this weekend, but above that, I am proud to be a woman.

I hate to write about Donald Trump. Not because I don’t agree with his political views, but because I’ve heard his name too many times and I feel it to be pointless to add to the black hole of dirt on his name. Despite this, we all know that some of the things he has said are absolutely ridiculous, and for some –women, LGBTQ+, literally any other minority- they are terrifying. His “locker room talk” (which is a bit more serious than careless banter, don’t get me started on that) has instilled a sense of fear in a majority of women in the United States. Because of this, and because of his new status as President of the United States, women are fighting back.

The Women’s March on Washington brought together hundreds of thousands of men and women from all over the world. Along with the movement in D.C., over 600 marches sprouted in cities all over the U.S. and even across the globe. In total, reported by the Washington Post, millions of people participated. It was incredible.

These people felt strongly about an issue and they demonstrated that through peaceful protest. To me, that’s what this country is all about. Above all of the debates and violence and hatred, we are able to call out a politician and stand up for what we believe in. We have the ability to work together and spread a message without fear of repercussion. We have the right to protest. I don’t think we realize how lucky we are to be able to say that. This made me proud to call myself an American.

Above this, I’m proud to be a woman. I am proud that the women who organized this movement felt it to be important enough to represent all of us, young and old. Our rights are everyone’s rights. When one person’s rights are infringed upon, all of our rights are infringed upon. People may look down upon women or feel as though we aren’t capable of completing the tasks or making the decisions that men make, but they are completely wrong. This weekend proved that.

I’d also like to give a shout out to my girl Hillary Clinton. I see you wearing white to the inauguration to represent Suffragettes and keeping your cool when most people would be having an emotional meltdown, I see you. You go girl. (Also, thank you).

Loud, independent, bold, fearless, nasty women make me proud to be a woman. Our rights should be and will be protected. We will not be silenced back into the kitchen.