Document Type
Article
Publication Title
The Lindenwood Gateway Reader
Abstract
The Problem: Traditional gender roles in the United States restrict individual identity, limit overall productivity, and cause direct psychological and physical harm.
The Method: An evaluation of gender restriction frameworks using Victorian-Era literature, modern interpretations of women's and transgender rights, 2020s social media trends, and contemporary aerospace milestones.
Quantitative Finding: In 2026, 30 U.S. states maintain legal exemptions from rape by a judge and jury; males account for nearly 80% of suicides; 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced and over 85 passed into law in 2023; over 500 additional anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced and over 40 passed across 14 states in 2024.
Qualitative Finding: Rigid gender enforcement induces counterproductive constraints on personal ambition, leads to medical misdiagnoses like Housewife Syndrome, and compromises personal safety; conversely, abandoning these stereotypes permits healthier emotional expression in men and expands career success for women.
Publication Date
4-2026
Recommended Citation
Parker-Coyne, Sydney L., "The Impact of Traditional Gender Roles: Direct Harm to Individuals and Society in the United States" (2026). Gateway Reader- Individual Papers. 5.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/greader_individual/5