evaluation

• by measuring 561 male and 356 female students using the BSRI questionnaire bem found that feminine and masculine personality traits are grouped with most males sex typed as masculine and females sex typed feminine, 34% of male and 27% of females are classified as androgynous, this suggests masculine and feminine personality traits are distinct and there is a high portion of individuals who have a high and balanced level of both masculine and feminine traits,
• issues with bems study- did not include a category for few feminine and masculine traits, a undifferentiated type was added by bem in a development to her theory in 1981
• BSRI has shown a high test-retest reliability, when tested again pps tend to get the same score, this consistency over time in results suggest the BSRI is an accurate measure of gender and gender identity is stable
• drawback- bem's criteria, created over 40 years ago may no longer match current understanding of gender, this is due to changes in social change/roles, feminine traits included in the BSRI are 'childlike' and 'gullible' meaning the BSRI may lack temporal validity
• Bem's work provides greater understanding of gender identity as separate from biological sex, this and the development of androgyny as positive can lead to positive social change and potentially reducing discrimination due to non gender normative behaviour
• the BSRI score may oversimplify someone's gender identity, behaviour often changes depending on context, for example someone may display more masculine gendered behaviour at work, and more feminine behaviour in their social interactions and personal relationships
• the BSRI was established using a western student sample, expressions of gender are likely to be significantly different in both non western cultures and older age groups, meaning the BSRI may noe be generalisable,
• sex role stereotypes- lacking temporal validity- ideas around gender have changed, less encouragement in today's society for children to perform in sex stereotypical ways in certain roles, may mean the theories around sex role stereotypes are non applicable today
• people holding rigid sex role stereotypes can lead to problems in society, eg gendered expectations of ability and personality can result in people of one gender not getting hired for certain jobs- understanding this issue can lead to better hiring policies