Description

The Sex Role Inventory is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure gender identity and perceptions regarding gender roles. Initially developed by Sandra Bem in 1974, it evaluates how individuals identify with traditionally masculine and feminine traits. The inventory includes a set of statements related to stereotypical masculine (e.g., aggression) and feminine characteristics (e.g., sensitivity), as well as neutral traits.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data collected through the Sex Role Inventory are analyzed to examine individual differences in gender identity and perceptions of gender roles. Researchers use these data to study the relationship between gender roles and other psychological or social factors, such as personality, self-esteem, and social relationships. Analysis includes statistical methods to assess gender differences and explore the effects of socialization on gender roles.

Objective

The primary objective of the Sex Role Inventory is to gain a better understanding of how people identify with and adopt traditional and non-traditional gender roles. The tool is used to promote understanding of gender stereotypes and the effects they may have on individual development and social behavior.

Calibration

The Sex Role Inventory is scored using a Likert scale, where participants rate the extent to which each statement applies to them. Total scores are categorized as “masculine,” “feminine,” “androgynous” (when someone scores highly in both types of traits), or “undifferentiated” (low scores in both). The scoring allows researchers to analyze the composition of gender traits in the general population.

Bibliography

Bem, S. L. (1974). The Measurement of Psychological Androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(2), 155-162.
Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. (1978). Masculinity and Femininity: Their Psychological Dimensions, Correlates, and Antecedents. University of Texas Press.
Hoffman, R. M., & Borders, L. D. (2001). Twenty-Five Years after the Bem Sex-Role Inventory: A Reassessment and New Issues Regarding Classification Variability. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34(1), 39-55.
Twenge, J. M. (1997). Changes in Masculine and Feminine Traits Over Time: A Meta-Analysis. Sex Roles, 36(5-6), 305-325.
Auster, C. J., & Ohm, S. C. (2000). Masculinity and Femininity in Contemporary American Society: A Reevaluation Using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Sex Roles, 43(7-8), 499-528.