Gender-Role Atrophy
Gender-role atrophy – a term used within certain role-theoretical frameworks to describe the weakening or loss of previously established patterns, skills, and functions associated with a gender-related social role when opportunities to enact that role are substantially restricted or absent for an extended period of time (Hornostai, 2004).
Gender-role atrophy may occur when social circumstances make the continued performance of a particular role difficult or impossible. Prolonged separation from family life, for example, may restrict a person’s ability to enact established parental or spousal roles and may consequently weaken the practices and patterns of interaction associated with those roles.
Gender-role atrophy should not be understood as a failure to conform to conventional gender norms, nor does temporary non-performance of a role necessarily imply the loss of gender identity. The concept refers specifically to the weakening of an established role through prolonged restriction of opportunities for its enactment.
See also: Gender Role, Gender-Role Deficit, Gender-Role Insufficiency, Gender-Role Disharmony, Gender Socialization.
Reference
Hornostai, P. P. (2004). Genderna sotsializatsiia ta stanovlennia gendernoi identychnosti [Gender socialization and the formation of gender identity]. In Osnovy teorii genderu: Navchalnyi posibnyk [Foundations of gender theory: A textbook] (pp. 132–155). K.I.S. [in Ukrainian].
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