Marriage and Gender Roles

Marriage is a formal partnership between individuals, often recognized legally or culturally, centered on shared responsibilities, emotional support, and commitment. Gender roles refer to societal expectations about how men and women should behave, often influencing decisions within marriages—such as who should work, care for children, or manage the household. While these roles can provide structure, they are socially constructed and vary across cultures and time, and many today advocate for more flexible, equitable arrangements that respect individual preferences beyond traditional stereotypes.