Male Dominant Social Paradigm

I think what sets me apart is my willingness and ability to challenge the male dominant social paradigm. I am not like many women because those who I speak with only seem to care about their jobs, shopping or relationships, but I focus more on the how to contribute to society, pursue knowledge, and compete, which is stereotypically aligned with males. This explains why so many men have told me, “you think like a man”. I know this is not always a compliment, but is a gender stereotype because they expect me to think like typical females, but I believe that I am as capable as men or better. I credit my commitment to intellectual endeavors to two strong women in my life.
My grandmother went to school for only three years because she was limited
by gender and money, so she taught herself how to read, write, and lead people. She always told me that knowledge is important because it can determine one’s destiny. This has prompted my dedication to my education. She also taught me to be benevolent, which has influenced me to want to become a philanthropist in the future. Regarding my mother, although she’s smart, she only completed high school since her family could only afford to send her oldest brother to college. Moreover, my grandmother and mother took responsibility for their families because my grandfather was paralyzed, and my father was pursuing his career in another city and could not pay the family’s expenses. Therefore, my grandmother and mother’s spirits and tenacity have deeply affected me. I have learned from them that gender need not define me, but what I do and what I achieve is what matters. I will pursue my goals enthusiastically while critical of some feminist ideas that I might consider extreme, so that I might eventually influence other people to move beyond socially imposed barriers as my grandmother and mother helped me to do.