androgyny and the BSRI

• androgyny - displaying a balance of both masculine and feminine characteristics in ones behaviour
• Sandra Bem - developed a method for measuring androgyny (BSRI - Bem's Sex Role Inventory)
• Bem

  • suggested that high androgyny is associated with psychological well-being
  • those who are both masc and fem are better equipped to adapt to a range of situations that non-androgynous people would find difficult
• measuring androgyny (BSRI)

  • presents 20 characteristics commonly identified as masculine (competitiveness and aggressive) and 20 identified as female (tender and gentle)
  • further 20 neutral traits included
  • respondents required to rate themselves on seven-point rating scale
• W - cultural and historical bias

  • BSRI was developed over 40 years ago so behaviours regarded as typical in relation to gender have changed significantly since then
  • therefore Bem's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas that may be outdated and lack temporal validity
  • in addition, the scale was devised using a panel of all American judges
  • individualist notions of what is masculine and feminine may not be shared across all cultures and societies
• W - using questionnaires

  • the scoring system is subjective, and the interpretation of the meaning of each number in the 7-point scale may differ
  • social desirability bias - answer in way that gives experimenter favourable opinion of them
  • demand characteristics - may try to guess the aim and give responses they think the researcher would want them to give
  • response bias - forced to choose from given answers even if they don't really agree with any options
• W - androgyny and psychological well-being

  • Bem placed great emphasis on this as they are best able to deal with a range of situations
  • this has been challenged - those who display more masc traits are better adjusted and are more highly valued in societies
  • suggests Bem's research may not have taken adequate account of the social and cultural context in which it was developed
• S - scale is valid and reliable

  • BSRI developed by asking 50 male and 50 female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of masc and fem
  • highest scorers became the 20 fem and 20 masc traits
  • piloted with 1000 students and results corresponded with pps own description of their gender identity
  • suggests it has good validity