androgyny

• androgyny?

  Displaying a balance of masculine and feminine characteristics in one's personality.
• Bem Sex Role Inventory?

  The first systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a rating scale of 60 traits (20 masculine, 20 feminine and 20 neutral) to produce scores across two dimensions: masculinity-femininity and androgynous-undifferentiated.
• strength - Quantitative approach

  androgyny is measured quantitatively. Bem's numerical approach useful for research purposes when necessary, for e.g. to quantify a dependent variable in a research study. However Spence argues there's more to gender than a set of behaviours typical of one gender or the other, so qualitative methods offer better way of analysing gender. One compromise is to combine different scales. suggests both quantitative with qualitative approaches useful for studying different aspects of androgyny.
• another strength - Valid and reliable

  valid and reliable way of measuring. scale developed by asking 50 male and 50 female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how much traits represented 'maleness' and 'femaleness. traits that scored highest became 20 masculine and 20 feminine traits on scale. BSRI piloted with over 1000 students and results corresponded with their own description of gender identity, showing validity. follow-up study with smaller sample of same students produced similar scores when tested a month later, showing test-retest reliability.test was both valid and reliable.
• CA for another strength of the BSRI?

  P - was developed over 40 years ago and behaviours that are regarded as typical and acceptable in relation to genders have changed.

  E - bem's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas of masculinity and femininity that are outdated. scale was devised using people all from US. notions of maleness and femaleness in this country may not be shared across all cultures and societies.

  L - may lack temporal validity and generalisability and not be a suitable measure of gender identity today.
• one limitation of the BSRI?

  P - people may not have insight into their degree of masculinity, femininity or androgyny.

  E - asking people to rate themselves on a questionnaire relies on people having an understanding of their personality and behaviour that they may not necessarily have. gender is a social construct which may be more open to interpretation than sex. the questionnaires scoring system is subjective and peoples application of the 7 point scale may differ.

  L - BSRI may not be an objective, scientific way of assessing masculinity, femininity or androgyny.