Androgyny

Question 1

Psychological androgyny of the 70s

Answer 1

Introduced by bem, challenged idea that individuals are exc masc or fem
Argued that it was psychologically healthy to avoid fixed sex role stereotypes

Question 2

Androgynous people according to gender schema theory

Answer 2

Are aschematic and not influenced by sex role stereotypes and become androgynous when perceive world w/o gender stereotypes

Question 3

BSRI

Answer 3

Way to measure androgyny and developed by asking 100 American undergrads which personalities were desirable for each gender
20 masc, 20 fem and 20 neutral
Four categories of M/F/Andr (high F, high M)/ undifferentiated (low in both)

Question 4

Psychological well being

Answer 4

Studies using the BSRI and correlating to mental health have found andr females score sig lower fit depression and social inversion
Andr males scored lower on social inversion than feminine males
Androgyny and masculinity correlated with good mental health

Question 5

Correlation with mental health

Answer 5

Found that Andr ind have higher degree of self esteem and sense of emotional well being/ more adaptable
H/e suggested that it is masculinity rather than androgyny that is linked; masculine bias in western society eg independence and competitiveness

Question 6

Test retest ability of BSRI

Answer 6

Consistency over time and same person receiving same/ similar score
0.76 to 0.94 over 4week period

Question 7

External validity of BSRI

Answer 7

Lacks generalisability, 100 US undergrads in 1974

Relevance now, temporal validity

Question 8

Criticism of bem as over simplifying gender norms

Answer 8

Masculinity and femininity down to single scores, more contemporary approaches take interests and abilities into consideration

Question 9

Categorising sex role stereotypes as restrictive

Answer 9

Categorisation of behaviour, occupations, qualities etc restricts
BSRI indicates that and is correlated to mental health