11 Examples of Traditional Gender Roles and Their Drawbacks

Listen to this article

The aim of the society is commendable. No one can argue that it’s useful to work together where we all have our roles to support each other. Ultimately, together, we promote a healthy life for everyone. 

Sadly, nothing is perfect, and fixed traditional gender roles often lead to discrimination and angst. While these roles have provided a sense of order and familiarity, they also come laden with drawbacks that can perpetuate inequality, limit individual potential, and hinder social progress.

Thus, we must find answers to questions like “What do traditional gender roles mean?” in order to understand how traditional gender roles pose challenges to individuals and society at large.

What are traditional gender roles?

The list of traditional gender roles in marriage varies subtly across cultures. Nevertheless, these are social expectations for how men and women should behave. Generally, most communities agree that the traditional role of a woman is more nurturing, and men are more dominant. 

Traditional gender roles in relationships exist to divide the work that needs to be done to support families and society at large. 

The idea is that we leverage our natural skills. For example, people view women as more gentle and caring. So, they become the obvious choice to take on the role of caregiver at home. 

While division of labor makes sense at the higher level, it can have disastrous consequences. That’s because traditional gender roles don’t take into account individual preferences. 

It leads to judgment when people try to break away from the list of female gender roles or male ones to establish their own way of doing things. 

As this chapter on creativity explains, for instance, gender role expectations can lead to underachievement and low creativity at school. That’s because to be creative, you need to combine sensitivity, a traditionally female trait, with independence, more typical for most traditional male roles in society.

Why is it important to challenge traditional gender roles?

Addressing and challenging traditional gender roles holds paramount importance in promoting a more equitable and progressive society.

Life Coach Jaclyn Hunt points out,

Relationships do not need defined roles. You simply need to contribute the same amount of love and energy into that relationship.

By dismantling rigid gender expectations, we can promote the fundamental principle of equality, allowing individuals to pursue their passions and interests unrestricted by societal norms. 

The shift not only empowers individuals economically, contributing to a diverse and productive workforce but also enhances mental well-being by reducing the stigma associated with non-conformity. Challenging gender roles is a crucial step toward building a more inclusive, enlightened, and just community that values the unique contributions of each individual.

11 types of traditional gender roles 

Traditional gender roles examples are varied and range from behavioral to occupational and personality differences. Society then tends to reward compliance and ostracize those who try to be themselves. 

Life Coach Jaclyn Hunt further points out,

The masculine or feminine role is outdated. Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

Some changes are happening to gender roles in relationships, with more women going into science careers and abandoning housewife occupations, for example. Although, it seems that men are still holding on more tightly to the idea of traditional gender roles, as this research summarizes. 

1. Men earn money 

Traditional husband and wife roles are usually split between the male breadwinner and the female housewife. This originally came from agricultural influences, where muscle and strength were needed to work the tools.

If we look at the research concerning the origins of traditional gender roles, beliefs are now shifting as work tools no longer need muscle strength.

2. Women cook at home

Traditional gender roles in marriage usually mean that women do the cooking, cleaning, and food shopping. They are assumed to be naturally drawn towards cooking and better suited for this responsibility.

The gender roles are based on the traditional notion that women are more proficient at most matters related to taking care of the household. Interestingly, men still dominate the chef profession in the food industry. 

3. Chivalrous men

Traditional relationship roles include the man protecting the woman. That can be anything from carrying things for her to opening doors. You might also see men walking on the roadside to protect women from cars.

The notion that “men don’t cry” is based on the notion that men are chivalrous and stronger than women, both physically and mentally. Thus, they are seen as the protectors and caretakers of women.

4. Job selection 

Nontraditional gender roles are when women become engineers and men join the teaching profession, for instance. Sadly, women are still paid less than men for the same jobs, though, as per this article on the gender pay gap by the Pew Research Center. 

5. Behavioral norms 

Traditional relationship roles also include behaviors. So, many families assume that men are more intelligent and push their sons into further education. On the other hand, women learn that they should focus on finding a husband. 

Both male and female brains are plastic and can adjust and learn as much or as little as the individual chooses:

6. Nurture versus discipline

Traditional relationship rules state that women are the caring ones who show emotions. Women become the primary nurturers at home because men are the tough ones who do the discipline.

7. Clothing style 

It’s helpful to consider fashion when wondering, “What are traditional gender roles.” How many girls’ baby clothes are pink while boys’ clothes are blue? Even in the workplace, many assume that women wear skirts and men wear trousers.

8. Children’s toys 

The list of female gender roles includes how we play as children. Society expects boys to play with cars and make Meccano train sets while girls play with dolls. This further adds to the pressure that boys are tough and don’t cry, but girls are free to express their emotions. 

9. Housewife 

Traditional gender roles in relationships mean women stay home and look after the house. The word househusband isn’t in everyday use. However, the proportion of men who take on this role is perhaps increasing, as this study suggests.

10. Hobby expectations 

Traditional male roles in society also involve the type of hobbies people take on. For instance, men go and play golf or football, whereas women join knitting groups. Of course, this isn’t so much the case in Western societies anymore, but there are still some lingering beliefs. 

11. Personality 

Gender roles examples also cover personality. The same traits in men and women are not described in the same way. So, men are confident and persuasive, but women are bossy and pushy, to quote some examples. 

Why do we have gender roles?

The traditional gender roles definition states culturally accepted behaviors that men and women should adopt according to their sex. Biological differences are often quoted as the reason we have traditional gender roles.

As you can imagine, traditional husband and wife roles involve the women caring for the children while the men hunt for food. In this era, they provide money from their jobs. The idea behind today’s housewife is similar to the hunter-gatherer approach from when we lived in caves. 

Nontraditional gender roles are when men and women swap their positions. So, the woman might have a higher-paying job, meaning that her husband becomes a stay-at-home dad. Of course, this goes against the list of traditional gender roles in marriage such that others might scorn this approach. 

We all take on roles in our lives, whether at home or with friends and colleagues. This makes us more effective. Nevertheless, many cultures are now questioning whether our biology is enough of a reason to have traditional gender roles. 

After all, women don’t need extra muscle to do a desk job. Even the military opened its doors to women after the Second World War. We have the tools and know that our brains can adapt to anything and pick up so-called male or female traits as needed. 

Watch this video by Lila Rose as she answers whether gender roles should exist in a marriage:

Drawbacks of traditional gender roles 

Gender roles in relationships can be stifling and restrictive. Studies show that girls are influenced at a young age to believe they need protection, while societal expectations often restrict their education. 

The language we use every day reinforces traditional gender roles for females. Women are constantly reminded to be calm and passive. They’re then reprimanded for being aggressive, while the same behavior in men is lauded as confidence. 

Such judgemental language and fixed traditional relationship rules can damage self-esteem. Many women, for example, will try to conform by suppressing certain traits and emotions. Men might also sacrifice having a deep relationship with their children by prioritizing work and never being home. 

Not only can people not truly fulfill their potential with fixed traditional gender roles, but society also suffers. Without women engineers or more male nurses, businesses, and professions don’t benefit from having diverse skill sets in their teams. 

The IMF further proves in its study that closing the gender gap could increase GDP by 35% for those countries with the highest inequality. Moreover, people will be happier. They can finally take on equal roles and presence in their children’s lives without the burden of expectations.

Looking at the overall picture, Life Coach Jaclyn Hunt concludes,

Defining your role in a relationship is much like defining your role at work. If you both complement each other and put the same amount of work and effort into that relationship, the role definition does not matter.

FAQs 

Traditional gender roles have long shaped our societies, influencing expectations and behaviors for individuals based on their gender. So, having questions about these roles is apparent. Below, we have answered some commonly asked questions about traditional gender roles.

• What are the benefits of traditional gender roles?

The benefits of traditional gender roles lie in their stability and predictability in families and communities. Roles can help establish clear expectations and responsibilities, encouraging teamwork and efficient division of labor.

• How do gender roles affect relationships?

Gender roles can significantly affect relationships by shaping communication patterns, decision-making processes, and emotional expression. They can create a sense of security or lead to conflicts if one feels restricted or limited by societal norms.

• Are traditional gender roles still prevalent in today’s society?

While traditional gender roles have become more fluid and evolved, they still hold some prevalence. Although progress has been made toward more egalitarian societies, remnants of traditional gender roles can still be observed in certain cultural, social, and workplace settings.

Summary

The power of labels can hold any of us back. Sadly, we’re conditioned into traditional gender roles from a very early age by our families, schools, and friends. 

While that’s changing, it’s worth challenging yourself as you review the list of behavioral expectations to see if you break away from the norm or not. So, rather than naturally fall into traditional gender roles for females, such as housewives, or males, such as the breadwinner, work with a coach. 

Understanding traditional gender roles will help you discover who you are and what you want in this life. That means understanding and questioning your inner beliefs to liberate yourself and live a fulfilled life that transcends rules and expectations.