gender role
Behavioral sex stereotype
Gender role refers to the behaviors, activities, and attributes a society considers appropriate for men or women.
These expectations vary across cultures and eras: in mid-twentieth-century America, women were expected to cook and men to earn wages; other societies have organized differently.
Gender roles may be embraced, rejected, or renegotiated: She chafed against traditional gender roles.
The term often appears in discussions of how social expectations shape individual identity.
Male-dominated social order
- matriarchyFemale-dominated social system
- division of laborSplitting tasks among workers
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- glass ceilingUnacknowledged limit blocking advancement
power dynamics · social construct · pink-collar · wage gap · institutional sexism · egalitarianism · complementarianism · work-life balance
Primary household earner
- homemakerOne who manages a household
- providerOne who furnishes things
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
- nurturerOne who fosters development
protector · submissive · dominant · obedient · career-oriented · stay-at-home · working mother · head of household
Supportive care-giving
- empathySharing another's emotions
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- gentlenessSoft, kind demeanor
caring · compassion · tenderness · sensitivity · domesticity · modesty · receptivity · beauty standards
Fixed oversimplified notion
- conformityAdherence to norms
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
double standard · cultural expectations · conditioning · peer pressure · media portrayal · transgression · deviance · sanctions
Power to exert force
- courageFortitude facing danger
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- toughnessResilient durability under strain
bravery · fatherhood · discipline · competitiveness · resilience · emotional restraint · aggression · honor
Formal display to viewers
- clothingBody coverings worn daily
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
- hairstyleArranged head covering
- gesturesExpressive body movements
body language · voice · mannerisms · posture · accessories · grooming · jewelry · cosmetics
One's own identity perception
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- genderfluidVariable gender identity
agender · two-spirit · questioning · pronouns · coming out · self-identification
patriarchy
Male-dominated social order
- matriarchyFemale-dominated social system
- division of laborSplitting tasks among workers
- sexismGender-based prejudice
glass ceiling · power dynamics · social construct · pink-collar · wage gap · institutional sexism · egalitarianism · complementarianism · work-life balance · unpaid labor
breadwinner
Primary household earner
- homemakerOne who manages a household
- providerOne who furnishes things
- caregiverOne providing daily assistance
nurturer · protector · submissive · dominant · obedient · career-oriented · stay-at-home · working mother · head of household · emotional labor
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- empathySharing another's emotions
- motherhoodState of being a female parent
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
gentleness · caring · compassion · tenderness · sensitivity · domesticity · modesty · receptivity · beauty standards · maternal instinct
stereotype
Fixed oversimplified notion
- conformityAdherence to norms
- socializationInternalizing cultural norms
- traditionCustom passed through generations
etiquette · double standard · cultural expectations · conditioning · peer pressure · media portrayal · transgression · deviance · sanctions · approval
strength
Power to exert force
- courageFortitude facing danger
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
toughness · bravery · fatherhood · discipline · competitiveness · resilience · emotional restraint · aggression · honor · virility
presentation
Formal display to viewers
- clothingBody coverings worn daily
- makeupProducts for beautifying faces
- hairstyleArranged head covering
gestures · body language · voice · mannerisms · posture · accessories · grooming · jewelry · cosmetics · deportment
self-concept
One's own identity perception
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- nonbinaryOutside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
genderfluid · agender · two-spirit · questioning · pronouns · coming out · self-identification
- gendermale, female, masculine, feminine, man
- Folkwayscustom, folk belief, folk remedy, folk medicine, folk song
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- rolesleader, villain, manager, protagonist, cameo
gender roleevolutionary psychology
Study of adapted minds
nature · genetic predisposition · genetic determinism · natural instinct · instinct
gender rolegender nonconformity
Diverging from expected roles
gender fluidity · androgyny · gender bending · tomboy · sissy
gender roleself-expression
Conveying one's inner world
individual autonomy · personal freedom · authentic self · self-determination
role, gender, cisgender, transgender, roles, engender, gendered, engendering, engendered