Androgyny and the BSRI

Question 1

Define androgyny

Answer 1

The combination of both masculine and feminine characteristics. An equal level of both.

Question 2

What is the Bem Sex Role inventory?

Answer 2

The BSRI is a measure of masculine and feminine gender roles. It assess how people identify themselves psychologically.

Question 3

How was the BSRI developed?

Answer 3

100 American undergraduates were asked which which personality traits they thought were the most desirable for men + women (200 characteristics initially)

Question 4

What is the BSRI test compromised of?

Answer 4

60 items - 20 masc, 20 fem, 20 neutral
It is a 7 point Likert Scale

Question 5

What did Spence et al (1975) add?

Answer 5

undifferentiated as Bem did not distinguish between the types of androgyny

Question 6

What did Bem argue about a individuals with a freer cognitive style?

Answer 6

Will be more psychologically healthy

Question 7

Why are androgenous people more comfortable with who they are?

Answer 7

No expectations are forced on them, not supressing themselves to fit into sex role stereotypes. Freer gender schema

Question 8

What is a key feature of gender schema theory, as proposed by Bem?

Answer 8

Androgynous individuals respond independently of gender concepts.

Question 9

A03 One strength of Bems work is that androgyny is measured quantitatively

Answer 9

• Numerical approach is useful for research purposes when it is necessary
• e.g. to quantify a dependant variable in research study
• BSRI provides a way of quantifying androgyny that is typically objective and reliable and allows for objective analysis of findings
• High test-retest reliability for BSRI over a 4 week period (.76 - .94)
• This gives us a reason to believe the BSRI is a reliable measure for assessing androgyny

Question 10

A03 Another strength of the BSRI is that at the time it was developed it appeared to be valid way of measuring androgyny

Answer 10

• Scale was developed by asking 50 male/female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how much they showed maleness/femaleness
• the traits that scored the highest in each category became 20 masc/fem on scale
• BSRI then piloted with over 1000 students and the results broadly corresponded with ppts own description of their gender identity demonstrating face validity.
• Therefore suggests that the BSRI may accurately measure and reflect gender identity of individuals.

Question 11

A03 However using quantitative method such as the BSRI may not truly reflect the complexity of gender.

Answer 11

• Spence argues that there is more to behaviour than set of behaviours typical of one gender or the other
• so qualitative methods offer a better way of analysing gender
• One compromise - combine different scales
• Personal attribute Questionnaire (PAQ) adds another dimesion
• Suggests that the BSRI may not be valid way of analysing androgyny and instead both quantitative/qualitative approaches may be necessary

Question 12

A03 Furthermore there may be issues with how accurate and useful the BSRI is at measuring androgyny in the modern day.

Answer 12

• BSRI made over 40 years ago, behaviours typical or acceptable then have changed
• Bems scale made up of stereotypical ideas that may be outdated
• Also made from people in the US
• Notions of masc/fem not shared across all cultures/societies
• suggests BSRI lacks temporal validity and generalisability, and not suitable to measure nowadays

Question 13

A03 We can discuss sex-role stereotypes based on research to support the idea we learn such behaviours through interactions based on social stereotypes

Answer 13

• Study by Caroline Smith and Barbra Lloyd (1978) involved babies aged 4-6 moths dressed in opposite clothes half the time
• When observed interacting with adults ‘boys’ more likely given hammer shaped rattle and encouraged to be more adventurous and active.
• ‘girls’ given dolls and told they were pretty
• suggest gender appropriate behaviour stamped at early age through differential reinforcement support the social learning theory.