This new series from Grey House offers in-depth, single volumes that follow the debate, or path, to a decision on a controversial topic as it evolved throughout history. Each volume offers a wide range of opinion essays and editorials, speeches, and journal articles and expert analysis. This volume tracks the changing national views on gender roles. Historian at-large Micah Issitt traces the path of gender politics in American society, with each chapter providing insightful commentary on a selected primary source. Drawing from the popular press, key court and legislative battles, speeches, social activism and opinion polls, Opinions Throughout History: Gender Roles offers readers mixed sources of information woven together to highlight the overall momentum of developing public opinion. As forces compete to move the needle of popular thought on this issue, readers will see the push and pull tension between traditional and modern definitions of prescribed gender roles.

Issues discussed include historic patterns of gender balance, religion’s role in community organization, feminism’s impact on defining gender roles for men and women at home and in the workplace, family-centered social policy, the backlash against progressive gender politics, the gender pay parity movement, and the passionate activism of #metoo as a response to corporate and government workplace sexual harassment. Gender Roles provides an essential resource for history and social studies research and an accessible commentary on the ways in which the idea of gender roles have evolved. Each chapter includes an introduction and conclusion, bulleted topics covered and discussion questions. The volume includes the following Resources: Primary Sources, Timeline, Glossary, Historical Snapshot, Bibliography and Index.