“What do you want to become?” It’s one of those questions adults love asking young people. Doctor. Engineer. Fashion designer. Pilot. Chef. Software developer. Teacher. Entrepreneur. Content creator. Maybe you already know your answer, or maybe you genuinely have no idea yet. Both are okay.

But imagine finally telling someone what you’re interested in and immediately hearing, “But isn’t that mostly for boys?” Or, “Isn’t that a woman’s job?” Suddenly, you’re not thinking about whether you’re talented enough, whether you enjoy it, or what you need to learn. You’re thinking about whether someone like you is even supposed to do it.

Gender expectations can influence the subjects we choose, careers we consider, opportunities we pursue, and even how seriously we take our own abilities. A girl might genuinely enjoy technology but begin doubting whether she belongs there because most of the people around her are boys. A boy might enjoy fashion, childcare, cooking, or another field people around him consider feminine.

Nobody may physically prevent either person from pursuing those interests. Sometimes all it takes is enough comments, jokes, and questioning. Eventually, someone can slowly move away from something they genuinely enjoy because they don’t want to constantly defend their choice.

But here’s something important to remember: your interests are information. During adolescence, you don’t need to have your entire future figured out. In fact, this is one of the periods when you should be exploring, trying things, discovering what you’re good at, and even changing your mind.

Pay attention to what you’re naturally curious about. What problems do you enjoy solving? What subjects make you want to learn more? What activities make you lose track of time? What are you already good at? What would you like to become better at? What kind of problems would you enjoy helping people solve?

Those answers can tell you much more about possible paths for your future than whether something is considered “for boys” or “for girls.”

And this isn’t only about protecting your own dreams. It’s also about how you respond to other people’s dreams. Your sister’s ambition doesn’t need to look like yours. Your brother doesn’t have to share your interests. Your female classmate can be better than you at something. Your male friend doesn’t have to prove his masculinity by choosing what everyone else expects.

Gender equality doesn’t mean everyone has to become the same. People will always have different personalities, strengths, interests, and dreams. Equality is about ensuring that people have the opportunity to explore those differences without being unnecessarily limited simply because they’re male or female.

So when you’re thinking about your future, ask questions that actually help you: Am I interested in this? Can I become good at it? What do I need to learn? What opportunities are available to me? What kind of life could this help me build?

Those questions will take you much further than asking, “Is this something a boy or girl is supposed to do?”

Your adolescent years are a time for discovering possibilities. Don’t close a door before you’ve even had the chance to see what’s behind it.

Article by Maryam Orahachi Bello