Is Being Different a Bad Thing?

 In the novel, the topic of being the "typical Dominican man" occurs widely throughout. You were categorized as a great Dominican man if you had a way with women. Being someone who can easily attract women and sleep with them meant that you were "the man". In Oscar's case, he was Dominican, but not your average Dominican. He was once seen as "the man" when he formed a love triangle between two girls in his high school years. Once his heart was broken by one of them, his life began to change. Oscar began to gain weight and had a deep interest in the sci-fi genre. All he would like to do is stay in and write stories as opposed to be out getting women. All the other Dominican men felt Oscar was not Dominican and just excluded him out of that category. But why does it have to be that way? In my opinion, everyone has their differences. Oscar, to an extent, did have a part of his Dominican culture with the fact that he was crazed for woman but he also had his own personality and way of life, which in my opinion is perfectly fine. Every one should have something unique about them because, if not they would be categorized with other people and never have the chance to be their own person. I feel differences are a very good thing, as they are something that makes you special, something that can identify you from everyone else. Although Oscar was constantly criticized for who he was, I feel he stood his ground and continued to be the person he was. He knew what his interests were and stuck to them because he knew that those things were what he enjoyed. Often times people who are supposed to be in a certain category try to change who they are to be accepted by others. Like for example, when Yunior insisted that Oscar needed to change, Oscar did take it into consideration and began running with Yunior. But, this didn't really work for him and he went back to doing the same things he was used to. I feel that Oscar was made to be the way he was and couldn't change it because it was who he was destined to be. I feel people shouldn't have to change to fit in ,but should be accepted for who they are.