Role De‐Differentiation as a System Response to Crisis: Occupational and Political Roles of Women*

The relationship between crisis and role change is examined in terms of a three‐stage model of role development: differentiation, de‐differentiation, and reconfiguration. Crisis is conceptualized as a sufficient but not necessary condition of rapid and significant role change. Trends in occupational and political roles of women during and after World War II are presented as empirical support of the theoretical framework.