The role of the average woman in today's society contrasts sharply with that of the female social norm expressed in times before the present; however, similarities exist. Women once existed in the background, limited to a life of domestic responsibilities, forced by overwhelming social expectations to obey their male counterparts and perform a variety of domestic duties specific to their gender. Today this is no longer the case, however some gender expectations remain intact, and for this reason gender roles are still a prominent aspect of everyday social dynamics. Susan Glaspell's play “Trifles” exemplifies gender roles as they were practiced in the early 1900s, identifying women's subordinate roles in their marriages and domestic roles in their families. Numerous historical accounts, documenting women's social and domestic experiences, express similar instances of female inferiority. Even more examples of these gender roles can be observed in literary works of the time. "Trifles" is one such work, in which many examples of the social roles assumed by women are portrayed. Ultimately, Glaspell's work invites the audience to recognize the difference between women's social roles in the past and that of the present and then to relate the two by identifying their similarities. Throughout "Trifles" the social norm for women of the time is made evident and the daily life of the average woman of 1900 is distinctly depicted. An example of the influence of gender roles can be seen in the first two lines of the play when the men call to the women, asking them to come closer to the fire, this served as an example of the power the men had over their women. In this period of time women did not possess the independence...... middle of paper......History, and the play "Trifles", had very little credibility and we are denied what in modern times we consider them to be inalienable human rights. The show reflects the struggles experienced by women in past eras, and the book shows the social practices that limited women to the subordinate roles they held in the past. History has shown the progress women have made from being nothing more than chattel to the important and independent members of society they are today. Society has changed and with it the responsibilities and rights of women. Women are no longer objects, they are people and, thanks to progress, they are treated as such. Work cited Bock, Gisela, and Allison Brown. Women in European history. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2001. Print.Glaspell, Susan, Donna Haisty Winchell, and Susan Glaspell. Trifles. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004. Print.