Final answer:
Gender roles are cultural expectations based on biological sex, while gender stereotypes are oversimplified beliefs about gender characteristics. Gender stratification points to systematic inequalities between genders in terms of wealth, power, and privilege.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender roles are the social and cultural expectations assigned to individuals based on their biological sex. These roles dictate how individuals should behave, dress, and even the occupations they should pursue. For example, in U.S. culture, masculine roles are often associated with being strong, assertive, and emotionally reserved, while feminine roles might include being nurturing, empathetic, and caring.
Gender stereotypes are oversimplified beliefs about the characteristics of men and women. Stereotypes can lead to expectations that all men and women conform to these narrow roles, which may not accurately reflect the individual's abilities or preferences. For example, the belief that only women are adept at caring for children is a gender stereotype.
Gender stratification refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege across genders. It is evident in workplace discrimination, the gender pay gap, and the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. Stratification contributes to the systemic inequality affecting individuals based on their gender, emphasizing a hierarchy where typically men have more advantages.
Understanding these concepts is crucial for recognizing and addressing the inequalities faced by different genders in society, which is an ongoing concern in sociology and gender studies.