Androgyny (OCR A-Level Psychology): Revision Notes

10.1.2 Androgyny

Recall

Androgyny

Bem's BSRI

Validity and reliability

Lacks temporal validity and reliability

Subjective

Criticism for idea that androgyny is psychologically healthier

Notes

• Androgyny - Where a person displays a balance of masculine and feminine traits. (E.g women may be aggressive and competitive at work but caring at home)
• Associated with psychological well-being having both traits makes a person better equipped to adapt to a range of situations in comparison to non-androgynous people who would find this difficult because they have a narrower range of traits to draw on.
• BEM developed a scale (BSRI - Bem Sex Role Inventory) to measure androgyny. Used 60 characteristics, 20 masculine, 20 feminine and 20 androgynous.
• Participants were required to rate themselves on a 7 point Likert scale for each item. Scores were then classified on the basis of two dimensions (masculinity-femininity and androgyny- undifferentiated).

A strength of the BSRI is it has face validity and measures what it claims to measure. This was demonstrated by the BSRI being piloted over 1000 participants and results corresponded with participants' own description of gender identity. A follow-up study involving a smaller sample of the same participants produced similar scores when they were tested a month later demonstrating test-retest reliability. Gives us evidence to believe the test was valid and reliable.

A limitation of the BSRI is that it was developed 40 years ago and behaviours that were considered 'normal' and 'acceptable' in relation to gender have significantly changed. BEM's scale is made up of stereotypical ideas of masculinity and femininity that may be outdated. In addition, the scale was made using people from the US. Characteristics of males and females may not be generalisable across cultures and societies. Suggests BSRI lacks temporal validity and generalisability, and may not be a suitable measure of gender identity today.

Another limitation of the BSRI is that it's a self-report measure so each individual will have different opinions of how androgynous they are which could also be affected depending on how they view androgyny or may result in them rating certain items more than they actually are in order to be allocated a score they desire. Seen as a more subjective area where people require an understanding of their personality which many may not have. Gender is a social construct which may be more open to interpretation than sex which can be observed as it's biologically determined. Suggests the BSRI may not be an objective scientific way of assessing gender identity and, as suggested by critics, may need to consider smaller aspects of androgyny such as personal interests.

BEM's view that androgyny is more psychologically healthy than those that are mainly masculine or mainly feminine has been challenged. Some researchers have argued that people who develop a greater proportion of masculine traits are better adjusted as these are highly valued in western culture. This means, in contrast to what Bem suggested, people who are more competitive and more aggressive, for instance, will thrive more at work and in a wider society as these behaviours are likely to be reinforced. Means that more masculine traits may have advantages for psychological health but overall a flexible approach is likely to be better as it allowed one to adapt to new situations.