Masculinity Scales Research Articles

The Toxic Masculinity Scale: Development and Initial Validation.

The present study sought to develop and validate the Toxic Masculinity Scale (TMS). Following scale development best practices, a thorough review of the literature and existing measures was conducted. Next, a qualitative inquiry using a grounded theory approach was employed to develop a data-driven definition of toxic masculinity and 165 proposed instrument items. These items were reviewed and modified with input from content experts (N = 6). The initial 108 items were administered to a preliminary sample (N = 683) of U.S. White undergraduate men. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a five-factor structure (i.e., Masculine Superiority, Gender Rigidity, Emotional Restriction, Repressed Suffering, Domination and Desire). Item analysis yielded a 35-item five factor survey that was administered to a second novel sample (N = 408) of White undergraduate men. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated inadequate fit for the 35-item scale; however, fit was improved by reducing scale length to 28 items loading onto 4 factors (removal of the Domination and Desire factor). Internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity were explored with this sample. The TMS28 demonstrated strong positive correlations with related measures (e.g., CMNI, MRNI) and a strong negative correlation with a diametrically opposed measure (i.e., LFAIS). Additionally, the TMS28 demonstrated strong adequate internal consistency for the scale overall (α = 0.93) and for the four subscales (i.e., α = 0.87-0.94). Future directions and implications for the instrument are discussed.

Perception of Femininity and Masculinity in Voices as Rated by Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Professional Speech and Language Pathologists, and Cisgender Naive Listeners

OBJECTIVETo explore whether cisgender naive listeners, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) listeners, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) experienced in providing gender-affirming voice training differ in their perception of femininity and masculinity in voices. METHODSSamples of spontaneous speech were collected from 95 cisgender, and 37 TGD speakers. Three listener groups of cisgender naive (N=77), TGD (N=30), and SLP (N=14) listeners, respectively, rated the voices on visual analogue scales in two randomly ordered blocks, in which the perceived degree of femininity was rated separately from the perceived degree of masculinity. RESULTSThe three listener groups showed similar patterns in their distribution of ratings on the femininity and masculinity scales. The TGD listeners’ mean ratings did not differ from the cisgender naive listeners’ whereas SLPs showed a small, but significant, difference in their ratings compared to both TGD and cisgender naive listeners and rated the voices lower on both the femininity and masculinity scales. CONCLUSIONThe results differ from previous studies as TGD, and cisgender naive listeners rated the voices very similarly. The lower ratings of femininity and masculinity by the SLPs were likely influenced by their awareness of the complexity in the perception of voices. Therefore, SLPs providing gender-affirming voice training should be attentive to how their professional training may influence their perception of femininity and masculinity in voices and encourage discussions and explorations of the TGD voice client’s perceptions of voices.

Gender-role features of the influence of conformity on the formation of value orientations of adolescents

The article examines the multifaceted phenomenon of adolescents’s value orientations, the mechanisms of its formation, and emphasizes the significant influence of gender-role conformity features on this hierarchy of the individual’s motivational structure. The influence of the level of adolescent conformity on the formation of value orientations of the individual was considered. Since the social situation actively begins to change during the transitional age, adolescents often enter into confrontation with adults, the process of separation begins, and at the same time, adolescents begin to unite in reference groups to strengthen their opinion, receive support and acceptance. Often, with a high level of conformity, they begin to focus on the norms, behavior patterns, sex-role expectations, goals of their peers in order to be accepted by their reference group, which can influence the formation of adolescent value orientations. Were invastigated that the contribution of the phenomenon of conformity to the formation of adolescents’s value orientations is 82.3%. Makes a positive contribution to the formation of such a value orientation as help and mercy to others; does not make such a contribution to the formation of a high social status and people’s management. Separately, it was found that the contribution of gender-role characteristics to the formation of adolescents’ value orientations, is 32.1%. The scale of femininity contributes to the formation of such a value orientation as: love. It does not have such an impact on the formation of such a value orientation as pleasant pastime and recreation. The scale of masculinity contributes to the formation of such value orientations as material well-being and high social status and people management. Does not have such an impact on health as value orientation.

Validation of Ukrainian language versions of gender bias detection inventorie

One of the most common research tools for studying sexism is Sandra Bem's Gender Role Inventory and Peter Glick and Susan Fiske's Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. The aim of our work is to translate the original questionnaire texts for studying gender biases into Ukrainian and to conduct their validation with both professionals and social work clients. The validation of the translated research tools was carried out at the Kyiv Municipal Center for Social Services and included three focus groups with 23 professionals (social workers, psychologists) and a survey of 83 candidates for creating family education forms who underwent training at the center. Mathematical processing of the results was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics program, using comparative, descriptive, and correlation analysis. During the work with the questionnaires, participants in the study did not have difficulties in understanding the statements contained in the questionnaires or using the questionnaire keys. Analysis of the survey results using our translation of the S. Bem questionnaire indicates that almost one-third of respondents' answers about women contain high scores on the femininity scale, while their responses about men score high on the masculinity scale. The respondents' answers suggest that their perceptions of women and men as androgynous personalities are complemented by sex-typed perceptions of their qualities. This may indicate support for the candidates for creating family education forms with ambivalent sexism views. The use of the Glick and Fiske questionnaires revealed that respondents demonstrate more benevolent than hostile sexism. At the same time, the level of hostile and benevolent sexism was higher in men than in women. Validation of the Ukrainian versions of two questionnaires in focus groups with professionals and during the survey of candidates for creating family education forms confirmed the possibility of using adapted Ukrainian versions to study gender biases in Ukraine.

Exploring Gender Stereotypes among Prospective Foster Families

One of the acute social work issues in Ukraine is the deinstitutionalization of care for orphans and children left without parental care and the introduction of family care models. It is known that the success of such models largely depends on the motivations and values that inspire parents to place children, the socio-psychological characteristics of family members, gender aspects such as the distribution of household workload, the involvement of men in performing housework and care for children and so on.
 Building on social role theory, we examine gender stereotypes of prospective foster parents in Kyiv, Ukraine. The exploration of femininity and masculinity stereotypes was carried out using the Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1974), while the assessment of ambivalent sexism in the attitudes toward women and men was done through using a short version of the methodology of Glick and Fiske (1996). 83 paricipants of the mandatory trainings for prospective foster parents were questioned.
 Our study reveals that the prospective foster parents hold a biased set of beliefs. Almost a third of respondents’ responses concerning women show high indicators on the femininity scale and concerning men – on the masculinity scale. Also, respondents demonstrate a greater extent of benevolent rather than hostile sexism and describe a generalized image of women and men as androgynous individuals. High levels of hostility to feminism, especially among women, have been reported.
 Ukraine has all legal grounds for gender equality. Thus, from the intersectional point of view, the study results highlight the impact of culture and social norms on perceptions of gender and gender stereotyping.
 The paper ends with suggestions on training programs for both prospective foster parents and social workers, enchancing egalitarian family patterns and agency of women.

Hegemonic masculinities and femininities in food industry packaging

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to analyze the formal and graphic elements around the hegemonic masculinities and femininities of the packaging of industrial bakery and biscuit products aimed at children and young people. A content analysis was conducted on 10 of the most widely consumed brands of industrial bakery and biscuit products in Spain and widely present on the international market. In addition, a scale of dominant masculinity was developed as a tool to analyze the most egalitarian narratives on the packaging. The results suggest that there are unequal narratives linked to hegemonic masculinity and femininity. The use of blue and yellow, the latter not having a traditional link to masculinity, is related to men in terms of aggressiveness and bravery stereotypes. The women represented on packaging with these same colours are presented in terms of sympathy or kindness, as well as stereotypes connected to beauty. The products contain homogeneous stereotypes and are associated more with men than with women. However, 2 out of 10 brands do not insert characters linked to sexual attributes or gender stereotypes. Therefore, our findings suggest that hegemonic gender scripts are inscribed on packaging less obviously than in other traditional media.

Alexithymia, masculinity and sexual behavior among Brazilian men / Alexitimia, masculinidade e comportamento sexual entre homens Brasileiros

Normative masculinity and alexithymia may negatively affect sexual life and men’s well-being. In this study, the endorsement of traditional male norms, alexithymia and sexual behavior were assessed through an online survey directed to Brazilian men. Relationship status and religion were also addressed, and associations and correlations between variables were carried out. The survey presented 66 items, including standardized questionnaires, such as Meanings of Adolescent Masculinity Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Male Sexual Quotient. The sample consisted in 528 Brazilian men with high socioeconomic and educational levels. Alexithymia was negatively correlated with sexual satisfaction. The endorsement of traditional male norms was positively correlated with pornography use and was also associated with sharing of pornographic material through social media. Married men had the lowest levels of alexithymia, with significant difference when compared with men who are not currently in a relationship. Furthermore, having a religion was associated with greater endorsement of traditional male norms. These findings suggest that alexithymia may have greater influence on behaviors associated with interpersonal relations, including sexual satisfaction and relationship status. Conversely, normative masculinity was linked to personal variables, which did not involve a partner, including pornography consumption and religion. 

The influence of men's masculine gender-role attitude and behaviour on sexual relationships and reproductive health in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study.

Background This article is an extension of a previous research on masculinity and sexual and reproductive health using a newly developed local masculinity scale, KANITA Masculinity Scale, to study men's masculine gender-role attitude and behavior in Malaysia.Objective To explore how Malaysian men's masculine gender-role attitude and behavior influence sexual relationships and reproductive health.Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study used the localized gender-equitable men scale to measure the attitude of Malaysian men toward sexual relationships and reproductive health. A questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of 168 men of ages 20–64 yr, in Malaysia. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS version 3.2.6.ResultsThe findings of the study showed that men's traditional behavior and controlling nature are positively associated with the inequality in sexual relationships (p 0.05, t = 1.838; and p 0.05, t = 3.750, respectively) and reproductive health (p 0.05, t = 2.196; and p 0.05, t = 4.133, respectively). In other words, men who offer stronger endorsement of traditional behavior and control over women report more negative condom attitude and greater priority of men's desire in sexual relationships. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between men's response to family and feminine roles in men with sexual relationships and reproductive health.ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of considering traditional masculinity ideology when considering the role of men in sexual relationships and reproductive health. Our findings suggest gender transformative policies and programs seeking to inspire men for more gender-equitable relationships with their partners.

DEFINITION OF GENDER IDENTITY IN YOUNGER AGE GROUPS OF WOMEN'S BOXING

The article considers the means of determining gender identification of girls engaged in boxing and their impact on the training and competitive process. Purpose: to determine gender identification of qualified girls boxers. Material & Methods: the study involved qualified (participants, prize-winners, champions of local tournaments and championships of Ukraine in their age group) girls boxers 12-15 years old, who are engaged in the city children's and youth sports school. A total of 10 girls were interviewed, including 7 athletes aged 15 and 3 athletes aged 12 years, sports experience at the time of the study ranged from 3 to 5 years. Research methods used: S. Bem's method "masculinity - femininity"; Freiburg Personal Questionnaire (FPI) Masculinity Scale; analysis and generalization of literary sources; analysis of excerpts from the protocols of competitions and video viewing of semifinal, final matches of two championships of Ukraine; method of mathematical statistics. Results: it was determined that most girls (n = 9) with index values ​​(IS) in the range from -0,348 (± 0.05) to 0,580 (± 0.05) belong to the androgynous type according to the S.Bem classification. Only one athlete (n = 1) with indicators (IS) -1,276 belongs to the masculine type according to the classification of S. Bem. Determination of masculinity signs using the FPI test showed the number of points scored from 4 (± 2) to 9 out of 14 possible. Conclusions: The study proved the dominance of androgynous and masculine types in various sports in general. The ratio of gender types between individuals engaged in martial arts and boxing is revealed. The data on the dominance of the androgenic type of personality in the younger age groups of women's boxing have been supplemented. For more productive training of gender types of physical and special boxing exercises and forecasting of competitive activity, it is necessary to study individual psychological qualities of a girl-boxer. It is advisable in the subsequent stages of long-term training to conduct repeated tests of girls boxers of this research group in order to determine the progress of masculinization by age and sports experience and sports qualifications.

Policing of Masculinity Scale (POMS) and pressures boys experience to prove and defend their “manhood”.

Policing of Masculinity Scale (POMS) and pressures boys experience to prove and defend their “manhood”.

Examining Boyhood Masculinity Within an Irish Context: An Assessment of the Reliability and Structural Validity of the Meanings of Adolescent Masculinity Scale and the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale

The Meanings of Adolescent Masculinity Scale (MAMS) and the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (AMIRS) were designed by American researchers to assess masculinity in adolescent boys. Given that masculinities differ cross-culturally, though, these scales may not be viable for use with non-American populations. In the current study, 221 Irish adolescents completed the MAMS and the AMIRS. Using confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), the MAMS’s and the AMIRS’s factor structures were tested. Results indicated poor goodness-of-fit in both cases. Attempts to improve the models were unsuccessful. Accordingly, neither the MAMS nor the AMIRS appear to be structurally valid within an Irish context. We recommend that researchers consider cultural variations when designing, validating, and utilizing indicators of masculinity.

Supplemental Material for The Fathers’ Current Expectations About Son’s Masculinity Scale (FCEASMS): Development and Validation

Supplemental Material for The Fathers’ Current Expectations About Son’s Masculinity Scale (FCEASMS): Development and Validation

Supplemental Material for Policing of Masculinity Scale (POMS) and Pressures Boys Experience to Prove and Defend Their “Manhood”

Supplemental Material for Policing of Masculinity Scale (POMS) and Pressures Boys Experience to Prove and Defend Their “Manhood”

Analysis of the relationship between psychological gender and risk perception style and attitudes towards safety in a group of women and men

The aim of the research was to analyse the relationship between psychological gender and risk perception style and the manifestation of pro-safe attitudes. The study involved 507 people in the age range 20–64 years, including 257 women and 250 men. Variables were measured using the following methods: Znajmiecka-Sikora’s questionnaire of attitudes towards safety (PwB), Zaleśkiewicz’s questionnaire of the individual risk perception style (SIRI) and Lipińska-Grobelny and Gorczycka’s scale of masculinity and femininity (SMiK). The obtained results prove that psychological gender significantly differentiates risk perception style and attitudes towards safety. The feminine dimension has been shown to strengthen safe attitudes and minimize risk-taking, while the masculine dimension weakens attitudes towards safety and strengthens risk propensity.

Conformity to masculine norms: Differences between men with and without a disability.

There is a noted paucity of quantitative research examining the interrelationship between masculinity and disability. We analyzed a sample of 12,418 men aged 18 to 55 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (the Ten to Men Study) to investigate associations between disability and conformity to norms of masculinity viewed as traditional in Western societies. To assess masculinity, we used the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory–22, both as an overall scale and across 11 different subscales. We found little difference between men with and without a disability on the overall masculinity scale; however, differences were observed on subscales. Men with a disability reported greater conformity to Self-Reliance norms and lower conformity to Pursuit of Status, Heterosexual Presentation, and Primacy of Work. These results suggest that men with disabilities reformulate masculinity to assemble a masculine identity that draws on norms such as self-reliance but places less importance on other elements of masculinity seen as traditional in Western societies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)Public Significance Statement—Evidence regarding the relationship between masculinity and disability is lacking. This analysis uses population data to compare similarities and differences between how men with and without a disability conform to norms of masculinity. The results demonstrate that men with a disability differ from those without a disability on some key masculinity subscales. Men with a disability report greater conformity to Self-Reliance norms and lower conformity to norms related to the breadwinner role (Pursuit of Status and Primacy of Work), and Heterosexual Presentation. Further research is needed to understand how these differences in conformity to masculine norms might impact health and well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Linking Alcohol-Specific Masculine Norms and Drinking Behavior Among Latino Men.

A robust literature suggests men typically engage in more general and heavy alcohol use than women, and that many health disparities related to drinking are more prevalent among Latino men as compared to non-Latino White men. Researchers posit that adherence to masculine gender role scripts may be one reason men choose to drink alcohol. To date, research linking masculinity to drinking among Latinos has been mixed and has used broad measures for masculinity that are arguably quite distal from alcohol outcomes. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to prospectively examine the link between previous bidimensional conceptualizations of masculinity among Latino men (i.e., machismo) and drinking while incorporating a more proximal, alcohol-specific measure of masculinity. Using data collected from two time points, results indicated that baseline endorsements of masculine norms characterized by drinking to excess was robustly related to both general and problematic alcohol use six months later. Conversely, baseline endorsements of masculine norms characterized by controlled drinking was related to later reductions of alcohol-related problems. Broader bi-dimensional measures of machismo (i.e., traditional machismo and caballerismo) at baseline were also included in each model and were unrelated to later general and problematic drinking. These data suggest there is merit to employing masculinity scales that more specifically capture the role of masculinity on alcohol outcomes among Latino emerging adults. In doing this, findings pertaining to masculinity and drinking may be more easily translated into prevention and intervention settings.

Association between Subjective and Objective Voice Masculinity in Hormone Naïve Trans Male Individuals

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between subjective and objective masculine vocal quality in hormone-naïve trans-male individuals. Methods: Twenty-seven hormone-naïve trans-male individuals were recruited for the study. All the study participants had applied to undergo the gender transition process and been referred to the Voice Clinic. The Self-Perception of Voice Masculinity (SPVM) scale and the mean fundamental frequency (F0) were used to assess any association between subjective and objective vocal masculinity. Results: The mean age of study participants was 25.3 years. The median F0 lay within the normal limits for cisgender females. However, in 12 out of 27 cases, F0 lay within the gender-ambiguous frequency range. SPVM scores were higher in this ambiguous group, a result with a strong tendency toward statistical significance (p=0.053). A moderate negative correlation between SPVM and F0 scores was observed (r= -0.484, p=0.027). The s moking frequency was high, with 77.8% of individuals in the group as a whole being smokers. Not only were F0 values of smokers lower than those of non-smokers, but their SPVM scores were also higher. Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that diversity in objective and subjective voice parameters exists even within the hormone naïve period. There appear to be several factors which influence F0 to a significant extent. Accordingly, a more comprehensive approach is called for when assessing transgender voice at all stages of the gender-affirming medical treatment process. The high frequency of smoking amongst the trans-male population should also be noted as it constitutes a serious health hazard.

The influence of gender threat on social distance toward minority groups

Gender threat triggers compensatory mechanisms and motivation to restore and reaffirm gender identity. The aim of the present research is to verify whether gender threat will influence social distance toward homosexual people, refugees, and disabled people. It was predicted that men in gender threat conditions would manifest higher social distance toward groups when compared with the control condition. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, no hypotheses were formulated for women. Sixty-six individuals (30 men and 36 women) aged from 18 to 24 participated in the experiment. After completing the Masculinity and Femininity Scale, participants in the gender threat condition found out that they possess high levels of feminine attributes (men) or high levels of masculine traits (women). Participants in the control group did not receive feedback about the levels of their femininity and masculinity.The analyses showed that both men and women, after receiving the information that their psychological gender was incompatible with their biological sex, declared stronger social distance and colder feelings toward the majority of the groups, including people with disabilities. At the same time, women, regardless of the research condition, declared warmer feelings toward these groups than men. The results of the study indicate that gender threat may be a potential mechanism which explains prejudices toward other groups. However, the results obtained among females require replication in future studies.

Facial masculinity does not appear to be a condition-dependent male ornament and does not reflect MHC heterozygosity in humans

Recent studies have called into question the idea that facial masculinity is a condition-dependent male ornament that indicates immunocompetence in humans. We add to this growing body of research by calculating an objective measure of facial masculinity/femininity using 3D images in a large sample (n = 1,233) of people of European ancestry. We show that facial masculinity is positively correlated with adult height in both males and females. However, facial masculinity scales with growth similarly in males and females, suggesting that facial masculinity is not exclusively a male ornament, as male ornaments are typically more sensitive to growth in males compared with females. Additionally, we measured immunocompetence via heterozygosity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a widely-used genetic marker of immunity. We show that, while height is positively correlated with MHC heterozygosity, facial masculinity is not. Thus, facial masculinity does not reflect immunocompetence measured by MHC heterozygosity in humans. Overall, we find no support for the idea that facial masculinity is a condition-dependent male ornament that has evolved to indicate immunocompetence.

The Implications of Gender Stereotyping on the Selection of Majors among Lebanese University Students

A total of 182 university students completed a questionnaire concerned with the rating Of majors on a feminine-masculine scale. Significant differences were found between male and female student mean ratings of the feminine-masculine scale for two majors: engineering and political sciences in the masculine direc- tion. No significant difference was found on the aggregate score of feminine- masculine scale for the 18 majors. The type of school attended either mixed or single-sexed did not show any relation to the response on the masculine-femi- nine scale. Main effects were found between ranking place of residence for the selection of majors on the mean ratings of the feminine-masculine scale. Also, regression analysis showed that mean parental influence was the main predictor on the mean feminine-masculine ratings. These results overshadow male-female differences of gender stereotyping; hence, a function of a wider cluster of attributes offamily influence, shortage of guidance, and individual awareness of university programs the sample was taken from.