Gender
Paper 3
Revision
,Introduction Into Gender
Psychology
● The UK government defines sex as:
○ referring to the biological aspects of an individual as determined by
their anatomy, which is produced by their chromosomes, hormones
and their interactions
○ generally male or female
○ something that is assigned at birth
● The UK government defines gender as:
○ a social construction relating to behaviours and attributes based on
labels of masculinity and femininity; gender identity is a personal,
internal perception of oneself and so the gender category someone
identifies with may not match the sex they were born with at birth
, Sex and Gender, Sex-role Stereotypes, Androgyny,
BSRI - AO1
● Sex - the anatomical and genetic differences between males and females,
from conception due to chromosomes (XX/XY)
● Gender - the psychological distinction between masculine and feminine
personality traits, and may not match their biological sex given at birth
● Sex Role Stereotype - culturally shared set of expectations of correct male
and female behaviour, learnt by socialisation
● Androgyny - having a balanced mixture of both masculine (e.g competitive)
and feminine (e.g caring) personality traits
● Bem Sex Role Inventory - a measure of androgyny, participants rate
themselves on a 7 point scale on 60 characteristics/traits and is scored on 2
dimensions (masculinity and feminity)
○ high both = androgynous
○ low = undifferentiated
● BSRI Traits -
○ 20Mas (Aggressive, independent, risk taking)
○ 20Fem (Warm,cheerful,shy)
○ 20 Neu (reliable, adaptable)
● Bem argued androgynous (high and balanced Mas/Fem traits) people are
more psychologically healthy than other types
Sex and Gender, Sex-role Stereotypes, Androgyny,
BSRI - AO3
● Bem showed gender matched sex in most males and females
○ 24% M and 27% F are androgynous
● Reliable - BSRI has shown a high-retest reliability, and has been used
successfully in a number of gender studies
● Undifferentiated type was added by Bem in a development to the theory in
1981 to identify people with few F/M traits
● Awareness of gender identity as separated from sex & androgyny as positive
may reduce gender stereotyping
● Adams and Sherer (1985) masculine M&F were better adapted in measures of
assertiveness and self-efficacy
● Simplistic: BSRI score oversimplifies gender identity, it often adapts
depending on context, work role and social groups
● BSRI lacks temporal validity due to social changes/roles
○ feminine traits included ‘childlike’ and ‘guillable’
Paper 3
Revision
,Introduction Into Gender
Psychology
● The UK government defines sex as:
○ referring to the biological aspects of an individual as determined by
their anatomy, which is produced by their chromosomes, hormones
and their interactions
○ generally male or female
○ something that is assigned at birth
● The UK government defines gender as:
○ a social construction relating to behaviours and attributes based on
labels of masculinity and femininity; gender identity is a personal,
internal perception of oneself and so the gender category someone
identifies with may not match the sex they were born with at birth
, Sex and Gender, Sex-role Stereotypes, Androgyny,
BSRI - AO1
● Sex - the anatomical and genetic differences between males and females,
from conception due to chromosomes (XX/XY)
● Gender - the psychological distinction between masculine and feminine
personality traits, and may not match their biological sex given at birth
● Sex Role Stereotype - culturally shared set of expectations of correct male
and female behaviour, learnt by socialisation
● Androgyny - having a balanced mixture of both masculine (e.g competitive)
and feminine (e.g caring) personality traits
● Bem Sex Role Inventory - a measure of androgyny, participants rate
themselves on a 7 point scale on 60 characteristics/traits and is scored on 2
dimensions (masculinity and feminity)
○ high both = androgynous
○ low = undifferentiated
● BSRI Traits -
○ 20Mas (Aggressive, independent, risk taking)
○ 20Fem (Warm,cheerful,shy)
○ 20 Neu (reliable, adaptable)
● Bem argued androgynous (high and balanced Mas/Fem traits) people are
more psychologically healthy than other types
Sex and Gender, Sex-role Stereotypes, Androgyny,
BSRI - AO3
● Bem showed gender matched sex in most males and females
○ 24% M and 27% F are androgynous
● Reliable - BSRI has shown a high-retest reliability, and has been used
successfully in a number of gender studies
● Undifferentiated type was added by Bem in a development to the theory in
1981 to identify people with few F/M traits
● Awareness of gender identity as separated from sex & androgyny as positive
may reduce gender stereotyping
● Adams and Sherer (1985) masculine M&F were better adapted in measures of
assertiveness and self-efficacy
● Simplistic: BSRI score oversimplifies gender identity, it often adapts
depending on context, work role and social groups
● BSRI lacks temporal validity due to social changes/roles
○ feminine traits included ‘childlike’ and ‘guillable’
