BSRI and gender terminology

• Sex


  Biological characteristics of a person (genes, chromosomes, reproductive anatomy)
• Gender


  Psychological, cultural or behavioural characteristics of a person. (masculine and feminine attitudes/roles )
• Gender Dysphoria 


  Discomfort with one's own assigned sex and strong persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender
• Gender identity 


  An individuals perception of their own masculinity and/or femininity.
• Androgyny


  Describes a 'flexible' gender role - displaying balance of both masculine and feminine traits, attitudes and behaviours.
• Binary 


  The idea that there are two genders.
• Non binary


   A term people use to describe genders that don't fall into one of these two categories, male or female
• Gender fluid


  Gender fluidity is a non-fixed gender identity that shifts over time or depending on the situation.
• Transgender


  someone whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
• BEM sex role inventory 


  test used to measure an individual's femininity and masculinity
• Evaluating BSRI

  P- Bet suggested that androgynous people are more comfortable with who they are, compared to those who show more conventionally differentiated male or female traits.

  E- This is because there are not expectations forced upon them about hoe they should behave. Ben argues that androgynous people are equipped to handling a variety of situations that may require a masculine, feminine or androgynous response

  S- Therefore androgynous people are supposedly more psychologically healthy and are not suppressing themselves to fit in with sex-role stereotypes. However - Adams and Sherer.
• P -The BSRI included a self report on a list of traits, therefore using a subjective technique for getting data.

  E- Self report relies on a person having insight into their personality and behaviour which not everyone has. Respondents may also lie/exaggerate but; within Bem's research it was confidential therefore this will have been reduced.

  s- Therefore it cannot be valid, you can't be free from bias from respondents as well as p.p showing demand characteristics.
• P - One strength of the BSRI test is that there's high reliability.

  E- For example, the inventory was piloted and tested on over 1000 students on more than one occasion producing similar results if repeated with the same sample. Additionally, a followup one month later including a smaller sample of the same students revealed similar scores

  S- This suggests that the BSRI gains consistent data and has good test-retest reliability.
• P- The BSRI and other questionnaires oversimplify the complex concept of gender identity, assuming it can be quantified.

  E- Gollombic and Fivush 1994 claimed that gender identity is a much more global concept than it is suggested by these scales. In order to understand gender identity more fully, the broader issues should be considered such as the persons interests and perception of their own abilities.

  S- Therefore the future research into gender identity needs to consider other factors and assume it is a complex concept.
• One limitation of the BSRI is that it lacks temporal validity.

  For example, the BSRI was developed in the 1970s and is considered by critics to be outdated as the tool is based on old fashioned gender stereotypes that are no longer relevant.