diff --git a/src/library/structure/heading.rs b/src/library/structure/heading.rs
index 017384960..c967c6d7b 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/heading.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/heading.rs
@@ -121,12 +121,7 @@ impl Show for HeadingNode {
             realized = realized.underlined();
         }
 
-        let role = Role::Heading {
-            level: self.level,
-            outlined: styles.get(Self::OUTLINED),
-        };
-
-        realized = realized.styled_with_map(map).role(role);
+        realized = realized.styled_with_map(map);
         realized = realized.spaced(
             resolve!(Self::ABOVE).resolve(styles),
             resolve!(Self::BELOW).resolve(styles),
diff --git a/src/library/structure/list.rs b/src/library/structure/list.rs
index 4ccdbc544..082c98c32 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/list.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/list.rs
@@ -128,11 +128,7 @@ impl<const L: ListKind> Show for ListNode<L> {
             cells.push(LayoutNode::default());
 
             let label = if L == LIST || L == ENUM {
-                label
-                    .resolve(world, L, number)?
-                    .styled_with_map(map.clone())
-                    .role(Role::ListLabel)
-                    .pack()
+                label.resolve(world, L, number)?.styled_with_map(map.clone()).pack()
             } else {
                 LayoutNode::default()
             };
@@ -188,7 +184,7 @@ impl<const L: ListKind> Show for ListNode<L> {
             }
         }
 
-        Ok(realized.role(Role::List { ordered: L == ENUM }).spaced(above, below))
+        Ok(realized.spaced(above, below))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/library/structure/table.rs b/src/library/structure/table.rs
index 7994f196d..a2f583f7e 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/table.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/table.rs
@@ -52,11 +52,7 @@ impl Show for TableNode {
         Self {
             tracks: self.tracks.clone(),
             gutter: self.gutter.clone(),
-            cells: self
-                .cells
-                .iter()
-                .map(|cell| cell.unguard(sel).role(Role::TableCell))
-                .collect(),
+            cells: self.cells.iter().map(|cell| cell.unguard(sel)).collect(),
         }
         .pack()
     }
@@ -108,8 +104,7 @@ impl Show for TableNode {
             tracks: self.tracks.clone(),
             gutter: self.gutter.clone(),
             cells,
-        })
-        .role(Role::Table))
+        }))
     }
 
     fn finalize(
diff --git a/src/library/text/raw.rs b/src/library/text/raw.rs
index 351600736..d237aa92c 100644
--- a/src/library/text/raw.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/raw.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ impl Show for RawNode {
             realized = realized.spaced(styles.get(Self::ABOVE), styles.get(Self::BELOW));
         }
 
-        Ok(realized.styled_with_map(map).role(Role::Code))
+        Ok(realized.styled_with_map(map))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/model/content.rs b/src/model/content.rs
index 81c3c729b..530862a2d 100644
--- a/src/model/content.rs
+++ b/src/model/content.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use super::{
     ShowNode, StyleChain, StyleEntry, StyleMap,
 };
 use crate::diag::{SourceResult, StrResult};
-use crate::frame::{Frame, Role};
+use crate::frame::Frame;
 use crate::geom::Abs;
 use crate::library::layout::{PageNode, Spacing};
 use crate::library::structure::ListItem;
@@ -160,11 +160,6 @@ impl Content {
         Self::Styled(Arc::new((self, styles)))
     }
 
-    /// Assign a semantic role to this content.
-    pub fn role(self, role: Role) -> Self {
-        self.styled_with_entry(StyleEntry::Role(role))
-    }
-
     /// Reenable the show rule identified by the selector.
     pub fn unguard(&self, sel: Selector) -> Self {
         self.clone().styled_with_entry(StyleEntry::Unguard(sel))
diff --git a/src/model/layout.rs b/src/model/layout.rs
index ea9d076c4..5f21765dd 100644
--- a/src/model/layout.rs
+++ b/src/model/layout.rs
@@ -202,15 +202,7 @@ impl Layout for LayoutNode {
     ) -> SourceResult<Vec<Frame>> {
         let barrier = StyleEntry::Barrier(Barrier::new(self.id()));
         let styles = barrier.chain(&styles);
-
-        let mut frames = self.0.layout(world, regions, styles)?;
-        if let Some(role) = styles.role() {
-            for frame in &mut frames {
-                frame.apply_role(role);
-            }
-        }
-
-        Ok(frames)
+        self.0.layout(world, regions, styles)
     }
 
     fn pack(self) -> LayoutNode {
diff --git a/src/model/styles.rs b/src/model/styles.rs
index d21f3a9f7..ddeeaa530 100644
--- a/src/model/styles.rs
+++ b/src/model/styles.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ use comemo::Tracked;
 
 use super::{Barrier, Content, Key, Property, Recipe, Selector, Show, Target};
 use crate::diag::SourceResult;
-use crate::frame::Role;
 use crate::util::ReadableTypeId;
 use crate::World;
 
@@ -161,8 +160,6 @@ pub enum StyleEntry {
     Property(Property),
     /// A show rule recipe.
     Recipe(Recipe),
-    /// A semantic role.
-    Role(Role),
     /// A barrier for scoped styles.
     Barrier(Barrier),
     /// Guards against recursive show rules.
@@ -222,7 +219,6 @@ impl Debug for StyleEntry {
         match self {
             Self::Property(property) => property.fmt(f)?,
             Self::Recipe(recipe) => recipe.fmt(f)?,
-            Self::Role(role) => role.fmt(f)?,
             Self::Barrier(barrier) => barrier.fmt(f)?,
             Self::Guard(sel) => write!(f, "Guard against {sel:?}")?,
             Self::Unguard(sel) => write!(f, "Unguard against {sel:?}")?,
@@ -324,21 +320,6 @@ impl<'a> StyleChain<'a> {
         Ok(realized)
     }
 
-    /// Retrieve the current role.
-    pub fn role(self) -> Option<Role> {
-        let mut depth = 0;
-
-        for entry in self.entries() {
-            match *entry {
-                StyleEntry::Role(role) => return Some(role),
-                StyleEntry::Barrier(_) if depth == 1 => return None,
-                StyleEntry::Barrier(_) => depth += 1,
-                _ => {}
-            }
-        }
-        None
-    }
-
     /// Whether the recipe identified by the selector is guarded.
     fn guarded(self, sel: Selector) -> bool {
         for entry in self.entries() {