In sociology, the role is the expected behavior that corresponds to a particular social position. Because roles are based on social rules. They can often be a source of personal and group conflict. However, roles serve the purpose of providing stability and a sense of comfort.
Role behavior
Role behavior is the fulfillment by a person of his social role, which is always standard, since it is a system of expected behavior. This behavior depends on regulatory responsibilities and rights. Each person individually understands his social role and therefore performs it differently, depending on the types of activity, relations between people. For example, there are capable and inept managers, talented and mediocre actors, caring and indifferent parents, obedient and naughty children. All participants in the interaction expect from each other behavior that meets the requirements and rules for this role. We can talk about the corresponding role expectation, that is, "the correct performance of their role." The sequence of performing the “right roles” from the “obedient child” to the “diligent student”, and then to the “successful businessman” is a condition of transition to the adult world and achievements.
Gender roles
Gender roles govern the relationship between a man and a woman. Social rules dictate that women should be passive with addictive behavior, while men are encouraged to exhibit aggressive, competitive and independent behavior. If these standards are not respected, a conflict arises. A woman who is ambitious and competitive at work is hard to gain the respect of male colleagues. Women, on the contrary, often become the target of harassment and dismissive remarks at work. A man who wants to stay home and raise children, and his wife must work full time, will not be understood by other men. However, over time, society becomes more and more democratic. Women and men begin to behave in a way that conflicts with their traditional roles. This suggests that with the development of society, the rules governing social roles will continue to change.
Gender and family
Family roles are usually determined by the patriarchal hierarchy of power. The husband should provide a "living wage", and the wife should create comfort, be quiet, modest and obedient. The division of labor led to the acquisition and further formation of various skills by them. Many classes are regarded as purely female, and some are male. The traditional hierarchy of power begins with the father as the head of the family. In many countries, the one who earns more is responsible for making decisions in the family. And, since men, as a rule, have higher earnings (for good earnings, higher qualifications are needed, and, therefore, a better education), men are responsible for decision-making in families of many countries. At the same time, women and children become dependent on the husband. However, times have changed. Therefore, modern families have an atypical structure: some children are raised by one parent or grandparents, some mothers work full-time or part-time, and some fathers stay at home with their children.
While the structure has changed, many of the roles in the family have ceased to exist. For example, children should respect and obey their parents, attend school, and participate in extracurricular activities. Mothers still want to put her husband's family and work first. In practice, however, the roles will depend on the specific design of each family. For example, in single-parent families, it may be necessary to make work a top priority in order to financially support the family.