nursing advancement question

Getting the AS first because it's cheaper and faster is a wise decision.

At entry levels there isn't much disadvantage that you'll notice at the bedise not having a BS because you're both pretty much on equal footing, passing the same NCLEX, etc. (Read this forum that I moved you to for a variety of opinions.)

Most management positions require a BSN. Most upper directorship levels a Masters (MBA, MSN in Managment, or Mastsers in Health Care Adminsitration) is preferred.

There are no advantages given to males in nursing. Males do tend to go more aggressively for the higher paying jobs (management, CRNA, flight nurses, etc.) because males tend to be more career minded, so you might see a dispropartion number of males in those areas. Hopefully it doesn't mean they've earned unfair advantage because of their sex and it means they've worked for it.

OP, I found the benefits of a BSN really came into play when I wanted a non-clincial nursing role. In my region, a BSN is required for public health/community health nursng jobs. But in my hospital years? It really didn't make a difference. Same license.

Apparently in my state there is an advantage to being a man if you are looking at government nursing roles. When I got my current community health RN job, the offer was delayed by 2 months. The agency was required to attempt to find a male RN for the role before offering to a woman. They had to document that they were unable to get a man to consider the job before they could give it to me. Minority hiring practices, as it was explained to me.