Typical woman, typical man. Gender roles define who we are. However, they are neither indissoluble nor biologically justifiable, but are called into question. Simone de Beauvoir already recognized: "One is not born a woman, one is made one". This is how the French philosopher put it in 1949 in her key work "The opposite sex".
This much is known so far: Behaviors develop, they are learned, and yet it is difficult to expand the range of action of the sexes. Women are expected to be feminine, men masculine. This begins in early childhood and has a formative effect. Gender roles are omnipresent and are promoted by heteronormativity.
Gender roles are changing in a changing society. Today, women are considered professionally successful and men more sensitive. However, this does not indicate equality. There are merely new attributions of gender roles along the lines of definition of femininity and masculinity.
Gender research criticizes gender roles as gender stereotypes and exposes their constructions. Anyone who is not prepared to fulfill the expectations and requirements of gender roles, or who is simply unable to do so due to their gender identity or sexual orientation, must expect exclusion and discrimination. This can even lead to hatred and deadly threats.
Source: Friedrich Ebert Foundation, 2025, https://www.fes.de/wissen/gender-glossar