Self-Descriptions of Mexican College Students in Response to the Bem Sex Role Inventory and Other Sex Role Items

Abstract

Two samples, one of 453 undergraduate students from a private university in Mexico City and another of 485 from a public university, were given a Spanish version of the BSRI, and 58 new items of sex role traits developed in Mexico. Eight BSRI masculine items were significantly endorsed by males in both samples, and 10 feminine items were significantly endorsed by females. Fourteen other BSRI items were differentially endorsed in the expected direction in only one of the samples. Of the new items, 1 positive and 7 negative masculine items were significantly endorsed by males in both samples, whereas 3 positive and 1 negative feminine item were significantly endorsed by women. Twenty-two new items were significantly endorsed by one of the sexes in the expected direction, in only one of the samples. Some sex role traits are relevant to both American and Mexican college students, whereas others are relevant in the Mexican culture.