Part 3/12:
His grandmother, a dominant family figure, espoused the idea that men should serve women and be "gentlemen," a term he criticizes as demeaning. She believed in women "setting the terms," and young Alan sensed this unequal dynamic from an early age. An incident involving the notion that "a woman's prerogative to change her mind" granted women an upper hand, highlighting the double standards men face—having no such privilege to alter commitments or decisions without repercussions.