Noted for its accessibility, this text—now revised and updated to reflect a decade of advances in the field—examines how attitudes and beliefs about gender profoundly shape all aspects of daily life. From the schoolyard to the workplace to dating, sex, and marriage, men and women alike are pressured to conform to gender roles that limit their choices and impede equality. The text uses real-world examples to explore such compelling questions as where masculine and feminine stereotypes come from, the often hidden ways in which male dominance is maintained, and how challenging conventional romantic ideals can strengthen heterosexual relationships.

New to This Edition

• Chapter on the sexualization of women's bodies, and resistance to it (including #MeToo).
• Chapter on the harmful effects of “real man” ideology.
• Numerous new examples drawn from current events.
• Updated throughout with the latest theories, research, and findings.