The average role of women in today's society contrasts sharply with that of the feminine social norm expressed in eras before the present; however, similarities exist. Women once existed in the background, limited to a life of household responsibilities, constrained by overwhelming societal expectations to obey their male counterpart and perform a gender-specific set of domestic tasks. Today, this is no longer the case, but some gender expectations remain intact, and it is for this reason that gender roles remain an important aspect of everyday social dynamics. The play "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell illustrates gender roles as they were practiced in the early 1900s, identifying women's subordinate roles in their marriages and domestic roles in their homes. Many historical accounts, which document women's social and domestic experiences, express similar instances of female inferiority. Still other examples of these gender roles can be seen in literary works of the period. “Trifles” is one such work, through which many examples of social roles assumed by women are depicted. Ultimately, Glaspell's play invites the audience to recognize the difference between women's societal roles in the past and that of the present, and then connect the two by identifying their similarities. Throughout “Trifles,” the social norm for women of the time is highlighted. and the daily life of the average woman in the 1900s is clearly depicted. An example of the influence of gender roles can be seen in the first two lines of the play when the men call out to the women, asking them to come to the fire, this illustrates the power that men had over their women. At that time, women did not own the independent paper medium. The story and play "Trifles" had very little credibility and we were denied what we consider in modern times. be inalienable human rights. The play reflects the struggles that women experienced in the past and the book exposes the social practices that limited women to the subordinate roles they occupied in the past. History has shown the progress women have made from being nothing more than chattel to the prominent 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 by 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.