Does the Bible say eliminating gender roles is ‘detrimental’ because it would put people ‘farther from God’s plan for humans’?

While the Bible includes passages describing gendered roles within specific cultural and theological contexts, it does not explicitly say that eliminating gender roles is “detrimental” or that doing so is contrary to God. 

Some, such as the University of Oklahoma student who recently received a zero on an essay in which she mentions the Bible to support this view, interpret certain passages this way, but theological interpretation is distinct from direct biblical statements. 

The interpretation that gender roles are ordained by God is complementarianism, which lays out its views in the 1988 Danvers Statement. 

Passages where the Bible discusses gender roles include the creation of man and woman in Genesis, Old Testament laws and practices, and New Testament household and congregational roles; those describe cultural roles rather than universal mandates.

The Bible also undercuts the idea of rigid gender roles by emphasizing egalitarianism and featuring prominent women leaders.