Obviously, perpetuation of the species is the key bond between men and Essay

Obviously, perpetuation of the species is the key bond between men and women; however, in this age of greater reproductive freedom is this bond still as preva - Essay Example The entire scenario has undergone a change in perception since World War II, which witnessed gender role changes on a massive scale. So much so that relationship experts now argue that there exists a universal bond between men and women that goes beyond the traditional reproductive roles, however differently or specifically they are construed by differing cultures. The traditional concepts of gender roles arose from an era when men occupied the workplace and women the home, and the only occasion for them to get together was for romance. They now work together, play together and socialize together. Such changes bring the different aspects of a universal bond to the fore, though there are several challenges that such relationships face. Talcott Parson’s model of the nuclear family has compared a traditional view with a more liberal one, even as he continued to support the view that the feminine role was an expressive one, carrying out internal functions while the masculine role was â€Å"instrumental†, focused on external functions. At one extreme, he admits that there are situations when all barriers cease to exist and other bonds do come into play. Hence Parson’s model can be seen as one of the earliest scientific proposals of the theory of a universal bond. In reality, the actual behavior between individuals is most often somewhere in between. (Quotes from Talcott Parsons. Concepts for Sociology). There are several challenges to non-romantic male-female relationships. Don OMeara, Ph.D., at the University of Cincinnati-Raymond Walters College, argues that relationships devoid of lust are genuine, but difficult to identify. Further, the platonic relationship would always be in danger of slipping into a sexual one, posing another challenge. Traditional gender inequalities in how power is wielded do affect the roles even in platonic relationships, causing strains in the universal bond. Since there are more doubters