What You Should Know

People around the world have different ideas about gender roles. These ideas come from how societies have changed over time, such as through farming and religion.

People think of masculinity as a set of beliefs they have about gender based on social and cultural ideas. Masculinity is a social construct separate from male biological sex.
Four norms define traditional masculinity: men shouldn't be feminine, men should work hard to earn respect for their accomplishments, men should never show weakness, and men should look for adventure and risk, even if it means being violent.
Studies on gender roles and relationship satisfaction have produced inconclusive findings; however, alignment between personal expectations and a partner's perceptions-irrespective of adherence to or deviation from conventional roles-correlates with increased relationship satisfaction.
Gender roles influence a couple's sexual relationship; research indicates that the desire gap is most pronounced in male-dominated cultures. Studies indicate that individuals in environments with higher levels of gender equality exhibit increased desire, sexual expressiveness, and sexual satisfaction.
A lot of men are working to come up with a new definition of healthy, positive masculinity. This might mean being connected, motivated, and real.

Change

Learn about gender. If you want to learn more about gender roles, a good place to start is by learning about how gender has changed over time.
Talk about your beliefs: Knowing what you want and expect and being able to say it can help your relationship work.
Find a therapist. A mental health professional can help you understand your sexuality, gender roles, gender identity, and relationships.