Analysis

The Modern Sexism Scale (MSS) is a psychometric tool designed to assess contemporary, more subtle forms of sexism that may manifest in society. While traditional sexism is usually openly hostile, modern sexism can be more subtle and is expressed through the denial that gender equality is still an issue that needs to be addressed or through the minimization of women’s lived experiences.

Purpose

The purpose of the scale is to:
Assess Contemporary Attitudes: Measure more subtle forms of sexism that may not be overtly hostile but still undermine gender equality.
Understand Social Norms: Analyze how social and cultural perceptions influence attitudes toward gender issues.
Support Educational Programs: Contribute to the development of educational programs that promote gender equality and raise awareness about modern sexism.
Increase Social Awareness: Raise public awareness regarding the impact of modern sexism on social relationships and gender equality.

Scoring

The scale includes a series of statements that participants are asked to evaluate on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). These statements reflect attitudes and perceptions about gender equality, and the total scores indicate the level of modern sexism.

References

Swim, J. K., Aikin, K. J., Hall, W. S., & Hunter, B. A. (1995). Sexism and Racism: Old-Fashioned and Modern Prejudices. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(2), 199–214.
Swim, J. K., & Cohen, L. L. (1997). Overt, Covert, and Subtle Sexism: A Comparison Between the Attitudes Toward Women and Modern Sexism Scales. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(1), 103–118.
Tougas, F., Brown, R., Beaton, A. M., & Joly, S. (1995). Neosexism: Plus Ça Change, Plus C’est Pareil. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21(8), 842–849.
Glick, P., & Fiske, S. T. (1996). The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory: Differentiating Hostile and Benevolent Sexism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(3), 491–512.
Becker, J. C., & Swim, J. K. (2011). Seeing the Unseen: Attention to Daily Encounters With Sexism as a Way to Reduce Sexist Beliefs. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 35(2), 227–242.