Resa Lewiss MD

And the reason I share that is some people, they're told you should become a doctor or they have a parent who's a doctor. And in my case, nobody in my family is a physician. And I grew up in a small town in the smallest state in the United States, so in Rhode Island. And

And the reason I share that is some people, they're told you should become a doctor or they have a parent who's a doctor. And in my case, nobody in my family is a physician. And I grew up in a small town in the smallest state in the United States, so in Rhode Island. And

I went to the public high school and I would say that my parents, when they decided their parenting style with my brother, my sister and myself, they had very traditional values and roles and expectations. They definitely had this line of boys do this and boys are expected to do that when they grow up. And in contrast, girls do this. Girls look like this.

I went to the public high school and I would say that my parents, when they decided their parenting style with my brother, my sister and myself, they had very traditional values and roles and expectations. They definitely had this line of boys do this and boys are expected to do that when they grow up. And in contrast, girls do this. Girls look like this.

And girls have different societal expectations and what they may do professionally. And those sort of divisions and those expectations really rubbed me the wrong way. And I think from childhood, from early childhood, I saw the differences and I didn't like it. And so I think I've been on a journey to prove that I want to do and become the individual that I want to become.

And girls have different societal expectations and what they may do professionally. And those sort of divisions and those expectations really rubbed me the wrong way. And I think from childhood, from early childhood, I saw the differences and I didn't like it. And so I think I've been on a journey to prove that I want to do and become the individual that I want to become.

And it has nothing to do with gender roles. And there's one story that I tell that I didn't even know why it rubbed me the wrong way, but every night we would sit down as a family for dinner at 6 p.m. Dinner would finish, and my father would say, Okay, girls, help your mother clear the table. And I would always say, Why do you say girls? Like, why do we have to help mom clear the table?

And it has nothing to do with gender roles. And there's one story that I tell that I didn't even know why it rubbed me the wrong way, but every night we would sit down as a family for dinner at 6 p.m. Dinner would finish, and my father would say, Okay, girls, help your mother clear the table. And I would always say, Why do you say girls? Like, why do we have to help mom clear the table?

How about everybody clears their own dish? And then he would look at me and say, Risa, help your mother clear the table. And then I would say, what about him? What does he do? Meaning my brother. And he said, he takes out the garbage. And I actually said, I prefer to take out the garbage. I'll take out the garbage and he can do the dishes. And it sounds like so bizarre, but...

How about everybody clears their own dish? And then he would look at me and say, Risa, help your mother clear the table. And then I would say, what about him? What does he do? Meaning my brother. And he said, he takes out the garbage. And I actually said, I prefer to take out the garbage. I'll take out the garbage and he can do the dishes. And it sounds like so bizarre, but...

I ended up reading a book during my early career that completely explained why this bothered me so much. And it was called Women Don't Ask, Negotiation and the Gender Divide. And they actually used almost that exact example about, again, this is the household I grew up in, these, quote, traditional values. I realized everybody's household was different.

I ended up reading a book during my early career that completely explained why this bothered me so much. And it was called Women Don't Ask, Negotiation and the Gender Divide. And they actually used almost that exact example about, again, this is the household I grew up in, these, quote, traditional values. I realized everybody's household was different.

They put out the explanation that girls are given these chores, these roles in the house that promote dependence rather than independence. Also, they're often like the monotonous everyday things that need to get done in the household. They're not these isolated events or once a week events. There's two or three times a day events.

They put out the explanation that girls are given these chores, these roles in the house that promote dependence rather than independence. Also, they're often like the monotonous everyday things that need to get done in the household. They're not these isolated events or once a week events. There's two or three times a day events.

And they're much less likely to get, for example, monetarily rewarded. You might not get an allowance, but say you take all the garbage or say you actually mow lawns and you can go to the different neighbors in the street and ask them, if you can mow their lawn and get paid. Same thing with shoveling snow.

And they're much less likely to get, for example, monetarily rewarded. You might not get an allowance, but say you take all the garbage or say you actually mow lawns and you can go to the different neighbors in the street and ask them, if you can mow their lawn and get paid. Same thing with shoveling snow.

And I literally always wanted to do those types of activities as opposed to the ones in the house. One sort of final little piece to this story, at the American Thanksgiving, again, it was just in me. The meals would end, the main meal, and there was a break between the main meal and then coffee dessert. And all the women would get up and clear. And all the men would sit and relax and talk.

And I literally always wanted to do those types of activities as opposed to the ones in the house. One sort of final little piece to this story, at the American Thanksgiving, again, it was just in me. The meals would end, the main meal, and there was a break between the main meal and then coffee dessert. And all the women would get up and clear. And all the men would sit and relax and talk.

And I would sit. And intentionally, purposely. And my father would look at me and he'd say, Risa. And I'd say, Dad. And he'd say, Risa. And I'd say, Dad. And he said, are you going to get up and help clear? And I said, no, I want to sit here and relax and let my meal digest and enjoy just the way you are. And again, I just didn't like this division. And it was really because I really wanted...

And I would sit. And intentionally, purposely. And my father would look at me and he'd say, Risa. And I'd say, Dad. And he'd say, Risa. And I'd say, Dad. And he said, are you going to get up and help clear? And I said, no, I want to sit here and relax and let my meal digest and enjoy just the way you are. And again, I just didn't like this division. And it was really because I really wanted...