I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.
Sonia SotomayorRead
What's quote-unquote a 'good' lawyer, doctor, or whatever the profession is. And if you're a male who grew up professionally in a male-dominated profession then your image of what a good lawyer is is a male image.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The concept of a 'good' professional is often shaped by societal norms and gender biases.
Sonia Sotomayor highlights how the perceptions of what constitutes a 'good' professional, such as a lawyer or doctor, can be skewed by gender biases, particularly in male-dominated fields. This suggests that one's understanding of excellence and competence is often influenced by one's gender and societal expectations, urging us to reconsider the standards we uphold and the diversity of experiences that shape our views on professionalism.
Themes
ProfessionGender BiasPerceptionSocietyExcellence
In practice
Example use cases
In a conversation about workplace diversity, this quote could highlight the importance of different perspectives in defining success.
More from Sonia Sotomayor
All quotes →This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.
Sonia SotomayorRead
I was fifteen years old when I understood how it is that things break down: people can't imagine someone else's point of view.
Sonia SotomayorRead
The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn't have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end I depended on myself.
Sonia SotomayorRead
As you discover what strength you can draw from your community in this world from which it stands apart, look outward as well as inward. Build bridges instead of walls.
Sonia SotomayorRead
There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested. Whether it's serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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