Okuzeka
Sociology vocabulary · Family, Gender and the Life Course

Gender role

Meaning in sociology, with examples

nounCore term

In sociology, gender role means: The set of behaviours, tasks and attitudes that a society considers suitable for women or for men, usually learned through socialisation.

In Turkish: toplumsal cinsiyet rolü, cinsiyet rolü

How it is used

Usually plural: traditional gender roles, changing gender roles. Researchers study how gender roles are learned in families, schools and the media and how they shape paid work, housework and care. Some sociologists prefer 'gender relations' to stress power.

Example sentences

  1. Children's books can reinforce traditional gender roles.

  2. The study looks at how gender roles change when women become the main earners in a household.

Common collocations

  • traditional gender roles
  • changing gender roles
  • challenge gender roles
  • gender role socialisation
  • genderThe roles, behaviour and identities that a society attaches to being a woman or a man, as distinct from the biological differences described by the word sex.
  • socialisationThe lifelong process through which people learn the norms, values, language and roles of their society and become members of it.
  • social roleThe set of behaviours, duties and expectations attached to a particular status, such as what people expect of a teacher, a parent or a patient.
  • patriarchyA social system in which men hold most of the power and authority in the family, the economy, politics and other institutions.
  • division of labourThe way work in a society or organisation is split into separate, specialised tasks carried out by different people or groups.

More terms: Family, Gender and the Life Course

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: