UNDERSTANDING GENDER (IN)EQUALITY: A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

The exploration of gender roles and associated theories has a rich, although not too long, history in psychology, with early theories grounded in psychoanalytic and sociocultural perspectives. For example, Freud proposed that children internalize societal norms and expectations related to gender through identification with same-gender parents. At the same time, the early sociocultural perspective emphasizes the role of culture in perpetuating gender inequality. Cultural norms, traditions, and societal structures contribute to constructing gender roles. These early theories reflected the social norms of their times and set the stage for more contemporary and nuanced perspectives on gender roles.