As a child, I, like many others, was captivated by the grand hero stories of male protagonists. I yearned to be like Indiana Jones, the daring adventurer who explored lost treasures and braved dangerous situations. However, being a girl, I was often limited to the stereotypical female storylines of a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued by a brave hero from an evil mother figure. Little did I know that these limited gender roles would have a profound impact on my perception of myself and my place in society.

One particular experience that changed everything for me occurred on a camping trip with my Aunt and Uncle when I was just ten years old. My Aunt took me aside and instructed me to do the dishes while my male cousin and brother played. Even though we were all around the same age, the boys were allowed to have fun while I was expected to conform to traditional gender roles. I remember feeling frustrated and wishing I could be more like the boys and less like a typical girl. I wanted to be able to go on a great adventure, not get stuck in the kitchen doing chores.