Gender roles refer to the expectations that society places on individuals based on their perceived or actual sex or sexual identity. These societal guidelines define what behaviors, responsibilities, and traits are considered suitable for men and women. While these roles are often shaped around traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity, their expression can differ widely across cultures. Nonetheless, some themes tend to be consistent globally.

The concept of “gender roles” was introduced in 1955 by psychologist John Money during his research on intersex individuals. He used the term to describe how people socially express their gender identity in situations where biological indicators were ambiguous. In broader terms, gender roles reflect the social norms that dictate how men and women should behave, think, and interact, based on culturally defined standards rather than biological necessity.

Types of Gender Roles

Gender roles are categorized patterns of behavior and responsibilities that society considers appropriate for individuals of a certain gender. Scholar Caroline Moser has been instrumental in shaping the modern understanding of gender roles, especially in the context of development and planning. According to Moser, women—especially in low-income settings—often take on three interconnected roles, while men typically focus on fewer, more specific tasks.

Reproductive Role

This involves tasks related to childbirth, child-rearing, and household responsibilities. These duties, primarily performed by women, are essential for sustaining the labor force. Beyond biological reproduction, it includes caring for the family—partners, working children, and school-age kids—which supports the present and future workforce.

Productive Role

This refers to economic activities that produce goods or services, either for the market (paid work) or for direct household use (unpaid subsistence work). Both men and women engage in productive roles, but women’s contributions, particularly in agriculture and informal sectors, often go unrecognized or undervalued. Women may act as farmers, laborers, or wage earners, often in addition to their domestic responsibilities.

Community Managing Role

Primarily handled by women, this role involves ensuring access to and the upkeep of communal resources—like clean water, basic healthcare, and education. These efforts, often unpaid and carried out in “spare” time, extend the domestic responsibilities of women into the broader community setting.

Community Politics Role

In contrast to community managing roles, political leadership and decision-making at the community level are generally dominated by men. These activities are more formal and usually carry status, influence, or direct compensation. Men are more likely to be involved in national or local politics and formal governance structures.

Concept of Multiple Roles

Both men and women often juggle various roles throughout their lives. However, the way they manage these responsibilities typically differs:

• Men usually take on roles one at a time, concentrating their efforts sequentially—often prioritizing paid or public work.
• Women, in contrast, are expected to perform multiple roles simultaneously, often balancing household duties, community work, and income-generating activities within very limited timeframes.

This unequal division of labour, shaped by cultural and economic arrangements, means that women often face more complex and challenging demands. These role expectations also subject men and women to a variety of social and institutional pressures, many of which are exacerbated by long-standing inequalities and systemic prejudices.