Abstract
The objective of this study (female N = 1072, male N = 471) was replication of multidimensionality of Bem Sexual-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974) defended by Fernandez and his research group in Spain. A methodological but not ideological approach is used to analyze the answers with an exploratory factor analysis. Methodological and substantive arenas will be examined. Excluding effects of social desirability and social evolution, a first selection of items provides clearly an orthogonal two-factor structure, in adult people. Reliabilities of both new re-named nurturance and dominance components are 0.80 and 0.78, respectively. There are sex differences in both new components: women’ score was higher than men score for nurturance factor, and lower for dominance factor. The results of a cross-tab analysis also indicate sex differences in fourfold typology combining both factors like Bem’s median split procedure. Finally, convergent validity with personality basic tendencies and their facets recommends making a re-conceptualization of both nurturance and dominance factors like personality traits. Implications for further studies of gender identity – social values in Spain are discussed from evolutionary approach.
Highlights
The instrument and the theory underlying to Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI, Bem, 1974) have received methodological and theoretical critiques from its first publication.The main methodological and conceptual critiques are focused on procedure used to select items, cultural definitions used and feminist reasons to valuate cultural and social influences on constructing sex-roles.Bem (1979) explained clearly the strategy utilized in Bem Sexual-Role Inventory (BSRI) construction
Masculinity and Femininity scales emerged using this criterion:A personality characteristic was qualified as feminine if it was independently judged by both females and males to be significantly more desirable for a woman as for a man (Bem, 1981, p.19). 20 items judged to fit the definition of femininity being expressive orientation were included in the final F scale and other 20 itemsjudged to fit the definition of masculinity being instrumental orientation were included in the final M scale (Bem, 1974)
The remaining 14 items from M scale and 13 items from F scale were used for other principal component analysis (PCA)
Summary
The instrument and the theory underlying to Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI, Bem, 1974) have received methodological and theoretical critiques from its first publication.The main methodological and conceptual critiques are focused on procedure used to select items, cultural definitions used and feminist reasons to valuate cultural and social influences on constructing sex-roles.Bem (1979) explained clearly the strategy utilized in BSRI construction. The instrument and the theory underlying to Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI, Bem, 1974) have received methodological and theoretical critiques from its first publication. The main methodological and conceptual critiques are focused on procedure used to select items, cultural definitions used and feminist reasons to valuate cultural and social influences on constructing sex-roles. Masculinity and Femininity scales emerged using this criterion:A personality characteristic was qualified as feminine if it was independently judged by both females and males to be significantly more desirable for a woman as for a man (Bem, 1981, p.19). 20 items judged to fit the definition of femininity being expressive orientation were included in the final F scale and other 20 itemsjudged to fit the definition of masculinity being instrumental orientation were included in the final M scale (Bem, 1974). Expressive orientation means affective concern for the welfare of others (Bem 1974, p.156) and instrumental orientation means cognitive focus on getting the job done (Bem, 1974, p.156)
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