Androgyny

Question 1

What is the term to describe men who show androgynous behaviour?

Answer 1

Metro-sexual

Question 2

Definition of androgyny

Answer 2

People who have a balanced mixture of male and female characteristics.

Question 3

What is the BSRI and who set it up?

Answer 3

• Set up by Sandra Bem.
• Systematic attempt to measure androgyny using a 7-point rating scale of 60 traits across 2 dimensions: masculinity-femininity and androgynous-undifferentiated.

Question 4

How was the BSRI scale developed?

Answer 4

• Asked 50 male and 50 female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of their ‘maleness’ and ‘femaleness’.
• Traits scoring the highest were the 20 from each group.

Question 5

What happened when the BSRI was piloted with students?

Answer 5

• Piloted with over 1000 students.
• The results corresponded with the participants own description of their gender.

Question 6

Give 2 examples of a female characteristic on the BSRI

Answer 6

Affectionate + Childlike

Question 7

Give 2 examples of a male characteristic on the BSRI

Answer 7

Aggressive + Dominant

Question 8

Give 2 examples of a neutral characteristic on the BSRI

Answer 8

Likeable + Reliable

Question 9

What scores do you need to be considered androgynous?

Answer 9

High female and high male

Question 10

Strength of Bem’s work. - Quantitative approach

Answer 10

• Measured quantitatively.
• Can quantify the DV.
• However, Spence argues that gender is more than a set of behaviours typical to one gender - meaning qualitative methods may be better.
• Therefore, both methods together can be useful for studying gender identity.

Question 11

Limitation - People may not have insight into their gender identity

Answer 11

• Asking people to rate themselves on a questionnaire is difficult as they may not have an understanding of their personality/behaviour they may not have.
• The scoring system is subjective and people’s application oof the points scale may differ.
• Therefore, BSRI lacks objectivity so it may not be a scientific way to study gender.

Question 12

Limitation - Her assumptions of androgyny may be wrong

Answer 12

• She emphasised that androgynous pople are more psychologically healthy as they are better at dealing with situations that demand a masculine/feminine response.
• However, Adams and Shearer: people who have more masculine traits are better adjusted as they are highly valued in Western Culture.
• Therefore, core assumptions of androgyny may be incorrect.