Intimate relationships among young adults are shaped within a context of significant social changes characterized by individualization, changing gender norms, efforts toward gender equality, and the growing influence of digital media and social networking platforms. Despite the frequent emphasis on equality between partners, numerous studies indicate that traditional understandings of masculinity, femininity, and gender roles continue to influence everyday relationship practices. The aim of this thesis was to explore how young adults understand masculinity and femininity and how these understandings are reflected in intimate relationships, the division of roles, material and emotional contributions, care and invisible labour, the emotional dimension of relationships, and perceptions of the influence of social media.
The thesis is based on qualitative research. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten young adults from Slovenia, aged between 20 and 30, who had experience of being in a romantic relationship and sharing a household with a partner. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis, which enabled an in-depth understanding of participants’ subjective experiences, meanings, and perspectives. The findings indicate that young adults generally support egalitarian relationships and reject strictly traditional divisions of roles. Nevertheless, elements of traditional gender norms remain present in both their perceptions and everyday practices. Masculinity was frequently associated with responsibility, protection, and reliability, while femininity was linked to care, empathy, and emotional support. The results suggest that the division of responsibilities within relationships is increasingly based on negotiation, individual abilities, and life circumstances; however, traditional expectations remain particularly evident in the areas of care work and emotional labour. An important finding is that participants often perceived emotional contribution as more demanding than material contribution. Communication, empathy, mutual respect, emotional literacy, and willingness to adapt were identified as key elements of a successful relationship. The study also revealed that social media play a significant role in shaping perceptions of relationships, masculinity, and femininity. Participants particularly highlighted the prevalence of idealized portrayals of romantic relationships, which may create unrealistic expectations and encourage social comparison. The findings contribute to a better understanding of contemporary partnership dynamics among young adults and raise important questions for the field of social work, particularly regarding support for intimate relationships, the development of emotional literacy, and the critical understanding of contemporary gender norms.
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