There once was no confusion about gender roles and the characteristics of men and women and wives and husbands. However it seems that since times have changed the roles that each partner in a couple plays is becoming more and more confusing.
When discussing the male and female gender roles I am not referring to homosexual or same sex marriages. I am referring to the typical heterogeneous marriage that takes place between a man and a woman.
At one point in time the woman was the caregiver. There was no question about who would cook supper or who would clean up afterwards. Everyone knew who would stay at home and care for the children. There was no doubt about who was supposed to see that everything at home was “good” and that the family was happy.
The man on the other hand was the provider who took care for things outside of the home. There was no question about who should fix the broken sink or who would work to pay the bills. There was no doubt who was in charge of serious decision making and who the children feared.
These stereotypes can no longer be placed on a husband and a wife. Men are staying at home and playing Mr. Mom and women are out in the work force. Women are tearing apart and fixing broken washing machines and men are baking bread.
Many will claim that the roles are advancing society into a whole new positive era of life. Others will claim that the role switching is creating an imbalance in our marriages and relationships. While it feels that these changes should be advancing us into the right direction, are they?
Let me know what you think? Do you believe that marriages were stronger when the husbands and the wives had a defined role to play or do you feel that the freedom to interchange roles in our marriages is a positive aspect?
Sorting out Gender Roles in Marriage