Do what you want to do. A majority of high end Chefs are men. My uncle was a big Harley riding dude that worked at a paper mill but was also one of the best amateur chefs on the west coast. There's nothing unmanly about cooking. It's a skill that will stay with you for your entire life and if you can turn it into a career then you'll have options to work anywhere on the planet for good money.

Thanks bro

Crf's right. If you feel you have to prove its manliness to them, as far as I can tell, that industry is roughly 80% male, especially for high end positions.

How in the world is cooking not manly? You handle animal meat, make good tasting food (what guy doesn't like to eat), men are iconically the grill masters of life...I mean, would they prefer you be a manly bear wrestler? And anyways. Screw what anyone else thinks. Do they live with your life? Newp. So you do what makes you happy, because you have to live with your life in the end.

Most of the top chefs in the world are men. Do your parents live in some timewarp in the 50s? It's your life, you do what you will be happy with for the next 50-60+ years.

Thanks you guys for all of this support.
I wasn't sure on doing this but now I know I'm gonna do it!

Not enough guys in this world actually know how to cook. DO IT.

Do what ever the living fuck you want. I am a woman, but I can't cook to save my life, in fact, my cooking can probably poison you.
At the end, it's not your family who are going to live your life. If you want to become a professional chef, then kudos to you, I might have a lot patience, when it comes to cooking it goes out of the window.

You do you! When I was little I wanted to be a chocolatier. I didn't end up pursuing it but you'll be happier doing something you like.