Final answer:
Expressive approaches to gender emphasize social and cultural traits, while intrinsic approaches focus on biological differences, both contributing to gender role construction, which assigns societal behaviors and responsibilities based on gender.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expressive and intrinsic approaches to gender are indeed connected to gender role construction. Expressive approaches emphasize the social and cultural aspects of gender as they relate to the emotions and traits typically associated with femininity or masculinity. For instance, women are often seen as caretakers within the home, an expressive role that involves providing emotional support and raising children. Intrinsic approaches, on the other hand, focus on the biological characteristics that define males and females, suggesting that differences in behavior and roles stem from innate, biological differences.
Gender role construction is the process through which society assigns certain behaviors and responsibilities to people based on their gender. Cultural interpretations of biological differences lead to gender roles that often place males and females into separate spheres of influence, usually valuing one sphere over another and creating a system of power and privilege. This division is seen in the assignment of instrumental roles to men (such as working outside the home for pay) and expressive roles to women (such as providing care within the home). Understanding the influence of both expressive and intrinsic approaches provides insight into the complexity of how gender roles are shaped and maintained within society.