For mid-to-upper level courses in Gender Roles, Introduction to Women's Studies, and Sociology of Sex Roles. The updated revision for the fourth edition of Gender Roles is a clearly written core text for courses on the sociology of gender/gender roles. Although appropriate for mid to upper level students, those without the introductory course in sociology can quickly navigate its contents so that early in the text students from all levels are on the same grounds. Focusing on the most recent research and theory-both in the U.S. and globally-it provides an in-depth, survey and analysis of modern gender roles and issues from a sociological perspective but also, integrates insights and research from other disciplines-especially biology, psychology, anthropology and history. Interdisciplinary material is guided by the sociological perspective, so students can understand the commonalities and differences in the ways the various disciplines research and explain gender. This text provides a balanced, non-polarized view of controversial issues that dispel gender myths and demonstrates how material can be meaningfully applied to a student's personal life.