Answer:
Families vary in different ways. There are those that hold on the bible principles from Genesis chapter 3 verse 16 that the woman was put under the control of man, while others believe on the sharing of duties and this has led to a norm among different communities that family roles are specified to particular genders (Ridgeway & Kricheli-Katz, 2013).
However, Christianity teaches the sharing of duties among different genders in a family set up. For example, in Genesis chapter two and verse twenty and twenty one, Eve was brought to Adam as a helper, implying that they were to help one another in God’s given duties. This has constituted to women having access to family properties just like the man. Moreover, there is sharing of responsibilities among the family members irrespective of their gender.
Family structures have to be a particular way for families to remain Christian. When a family is rooted in the principles given in Christian teachings on working together and with no specified duties for a particular gender, then the Christian relationship will be strengthened. God has entrusted with every individual the task to play in Christ missionary. Therefore, it becomes favorable for a man to go for an evangelistic work and leaves the woman to take care of the family. Similarly, the woman can go out for the same job, and the man would remain at home to take care of the family hence, sharing of family duties (Lindsey, 2015).
Finally, about the above Christian impacts on family life, gender roles are to be shared for the smooth functioning of the family duties bringing in unity and togetherness to help lift one another.
References
Lindsey, L. L. (2015). Gender roles: A sociological perspective. Routledge.
Ridgeway, C. L., & Kricheli-Katz, T. (2013). Intersecting cultural beliefs in social relations: Gender, race, and class binds and freedoms. Gender & Society, 27( 3), 294-318.
