Sex Roles: a Problem for Sociology and for Women

Abstract

'Sex role theory' has become the major sociological approach to the study of sex, gender and women, but during the 1970s an increasing number of criticisms have been levelled at work done from 'the role perspective'. This paper examines the problems affecting sex and gender role theory and research from three sources: those deriving from the concept 'role' itself; those arising from its association with functionalism; and those specific to the analysis of sex and gender in conjunction with 'role'. Some examples are given from sociological literature on female deviance.