Gender roles

Gender roles are the social and behavioral norms that are generally considered appropriate for either a man or a woman in a social or interpersonal relationship. There are differences of opinion as to which observed differences in behavior and personality between genders are entirely due to innate personality of the person and which are due to cultural or social factors, and are therefore the product of socialization, or to what extent gender differences are due to biological and physiological differences.

Overview

Gender roles differ according to cultural-historical context, and while most cultures express two genders, some express more. Androgyny, for example, has been proposed as a third gender. Some societies have been characterized as being gender neutral.

The gender role construct refers to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and historical periods.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is one's internal sense of their own gender. While most people have a gender identity that is the same as their biological sex, this is not the case for everyone. For example, some people may have the anatomy of a man, but identify themselves as a woman.

Gender Role Development

The development of gender roles begins at birth and continues throughout life. Parents, peers, schools, and society convey to the child expectations about gender roles. The process through which gender identity is formed is complex and is influenced by a variety of social, environmental, and biological factors.

Gender Role Stereotypes

Gender role stereotypes are widely held beliefs about the characteristics and behavior of men and women. These stereotypes can be positive or negative, but they all have the potential to limit the opportunities and roles that individuals can play in society.

Gender Role Theory

Gender role theory posits that boys and girls learn the appropriate behavior and attitudes from the family and overall culture they grow up with, and so non-physical gender differences are a product of socialization.

See Also

• Gender identity
• Gender role stereotypes
• Gender role theory

References

Gender roles Resources
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