gender role

n. A gender role is a learned set of behaviors associated with women or men. These behaviors are so strongly associated with each sex that the set of behaviors comes to define masculinity and femininity in any given culture. The underlying basis for gender roles is biological sex differences, but most authorities agree that gender role behaviors are learned. Children receive messages about gender role behaviors through rewards for performing some behaviors and punishments for other behaviors. Children also learn gender roles through the processes of observing other people. By observing and modeling others who are attractive or similar to them, children learn a wide variety of gender-related behaviors. Gender roles exist in all cultures, but the specific behaviors that are associated with the female or male gender role vary across cultures, making gender roles universal yet specific to each culture.

- LB