How can I gain respect with guys?

Im perfectly cool with girls. But it seems that with guys.. welllllll , well it seems like most of them tret me as there puppy dog. There not like super mean or hate me or anything like that, but it seems like they have lower expectations for me and think that im weak. Im a black belt in tae kwon do and currently do kickboxing. How can I just proove to them that Im not what they think i am?