American sociologists Talcott Parsons and Robert Bales have made distinct distinctions between the roles of men and women in the United States. According to Parsons, gender roles are determined by society and individuals should adhere to their prescribed roles within the family unit (Parsons & Bales, 1955). Men were expected to focus on work outside of the home while women were responsible for domestic duties such as taking care of children or completing housework.

For his part, Bales put forth a different perspective which focused less on traditional divisions based purely on gender and more on emotional processes that take place within a relationship (Bales et al., 1956). He argued that couples in healthy relationships should strive for an equal division of labor where both partners are respected regardless of their gender identity. This could include sharing responsibilities related to parenting or household tasks with each person contributing according to their individual capabilities rather than strict binary rules (Bales et al., 1956).

In summary, Parsons and Bales have varied approaches when it comes to understanding male-female relations in American society. While Parsons values adherence to traditional gender roles – with men focusing mainly on external activities while women take up domestic ones – Bales focuses instead on creating a balance between partners through mutual respect and recognition regardless of whether they fall into one specific category or not. Although their views differ they both emphasize the importance of developing strong interpersonal connections between people which is essential for healthy relationships.