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Traditional Gender Roles

Definition

Traditional gender roles refer to culturally defined expectations and behaviors associated with masculinity and femininity within a society. These roles often emphasize distinct gender-based responsibilities such as men being breadwinners and women being caregivers.

Analogy

Think of traditional gender roles as assigned seating arrangements on a bus - men sitting on one side while women sit on another. These roles dictate where individuals "should" be based on their gender.

Related terms

Second Wave Feminism: A feminist movement during the 1960s-1980s focused on addressing issues such as reproductive rights, workplace discrimination, and challenging traditional gender norms.

Gender Binary: The classification of sex or gender into two distinct categories – male or female – excluding other identities along the spectrum.

Androgyny: A concept that challenges traditional gender roles by blending or rejecting stereotypical masculine and feminine characteristics in appearance, behavior, or identity.