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Women's roles

Definition

Women's roles refer to societal expectations about behaviors and responsibilities appropriate for women based on their sex.

Analogy

Consider women’s roles as different parts played by actresses in a movie; over time these parts have evolved from being limited (like only playing damsels in distress) to diverse characters (CEOs, superheroes).

Related terms

Domesticity: The quality or state of being domestic; home life or household activities often associated with traditional female roles such as cooking, cleaning, child-rearing etc.

Glass Ceiling: An unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities - like an invisible barrier keeping someone from rising higher even though there seems nothing stopping them.

Second-wave feminism: A period of feminist activity and thought that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. It expanded debate to a wide range of issues: sexuality, family, workplace, reproductive rights etc.

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Practice Questions (20+)



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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.