Gender roles are primarily:

Gender roles are primarily prescribed by societal norms and expectations. This means that the behaviors, attitudes, and activities that a given society considers appropriate for men and women are shaped by cultural beliefs, practices, and historical context rather than by individual preferences or biological determinism.

Societies create and sustain roles for genders through socialization processes, where individuals learn what is expected of them regarding their gender. This can be seen in various institutions such as family, education, and media, which reinforce specific expectations about how one should behave based on their gender identity. While individual preferences may play a role in how one expresses their gender, the overarching frameworks guiding gender roles originate from social constructs that can vary widely among different cultures and historical periods.

Additionally, gender roles are not fixed and unchangeable. Over time, as societies evolve and norms shift, so do the expectations associated with gender. This adaptability reflects the social nature of gender roles, highlighting how they can be redefined in response to changing social dynamics. Hence, understanding gender roles as societal prescriptions allows for a more comprehensive view of how gender operates within various contexts and its transformative potential.