The BSRI revolutionized gender role research by treating masculinity and femininity as independent dimensions rather than opposites, introducing the concept of psychological androgyny and enabling classification into four categories: masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated.
The 60-item scale takes 10-15 minutes to complete using a 7-point Likert scale, demonstrating strong reliability (α=0.75-0.86, test-retest r=0.90) and validity across diverse populations, though it requires licensing from Mind Garden for formal research and clinical use.
Research shows androgynous individuals often demonstrate better psychological adjustment, behavioral flexibility, and relationship satisfaction, though the scale's binary assumptions and 1970s cultural context present limitations for contemporary applications with non-binary populations.
Introduction
The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) is a groundbreaking measure of gender role orientation that revolutionized how psychologists conceptualize and assess masculinity and femininity. Developed by Sandra Bem in 1974, the BSRI was the first instrument to treat masculinity and femininity as independent dimensions rather than opposite ends of a single continuum, introducing the concept of psychological androgyny. This 60-item scale assesses masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral personality characteristics, enabling identification of four gender role categories: masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated.
Revolutionary Approach to Gender Roles
Prior to the BSRI, gender role measures treated masculinity and femininity as mutually exclusive – being high in one meant being low in the other. Bem challenged this assumption by demonstrating that individuals could simultaneously possess both masculine and feminine characteristics. This conceptualization allowed for the recognition of androgynous individuals who score high on both dimensions, as well as those who are undifferentiated (low on both).
Theoretical Foundation: Gender Schema Theory
The BSRI is grounded in Bem’s gender schema theory, which proposes that individuals develop cognitive frameworks (schemas) for processing information based on cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity. The inventory measures the extent to which individuals have internalized gender-typed traits and preferences, reflecting their self-concept in relation to societal gender norms. This approach emphasizes the social construction of gender roles while recognizing individual differences in gender role identification.
Four Gender Role Categories
The BSRI enables classification into four distinct profiles:
Masculine – high masculine, low feminine traits
Feminine – high feminine, low masculine traits
Androgynous – high in both masculine and feminine traits
Undifferentiated – low in both masculine and feminine traits
Historical and Contemporary Significance
The BSRI sparked decades of research on gender roles, psychological well-being, and adaptive functioning. Bem’s finding that androgynous individuals often showed better psychological adjustment challenged traditional notions that sex-typed behavior was optimal. While societal gender norms have evolved since 1974, the BSRI remains valuable for understanding how individuals relate to gendered traits and expectations.
🔄 Paradigm Shift: The BSRI’s demonstration that masculinity and femininity are independent dimensions fundamentally changed gender role research and theory.
Key Features
Assessment Characteristics
60 items assessing masculine, feminine, and neutral traits
10-15 minutes administration time
Ages 16+ through adult populations
7-point Likert scale for nuanced self-description
Bidimensional structure measuring masculinity and femininity independently
Copyright and Usage Responsibility: Check that you have the proper rights and permissions to use this assessment tool in your research. This may include purchasing appropriate licenses, obtaining permissions from authors/copyright holders, or ensuring your usage falls within fair use guidelines.
Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(2), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036215
Manual and Short Form:
Bem, S. L. (1981). Bem Sex-Role Inventory: Professional manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Bem, S. L. (1975). Sex role adaptability: One consequence of psychological androgyny. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31(4), 634-643. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076704
Critical Reviews and Reassessment:
Pedhazur, E. J., & Tetenbaum, T. J. (1979). Bem Sex Role Inventory: A theoretical and methodological critique. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(6), 996-1016. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.37.6.996
Hoffman, R. M., & Borders, L. D. (2001). Twenty-five years after the Bem Sex-Role Inventory: A reassessment and new issues regarding classification variability. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34(1), 39-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2001.12069021
Short Form Validation:
Colley, A., Mulhern, G., Maltby, J., & Wood, A. M. (2009). The short form BSRI: Instrumentality, expressiveness and gender associations among a United Kingdom sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 46(3), 384-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.11.005
Cross-Cultural and Age-Related Validation:
Carver, L. F., Vafaei, A., Guerra, R., Freire, A., & Phillips, S. P. (2013). Gender differences: Examination of the 12-Item Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI-12) in an older Brazilian population. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e76356. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076356 [Open Access]
Current Validity Research:
Holt, C. L., & Ellis, J. B. (1998). Assessing the current validity of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Sex Roles, 39(11-12), 929-941. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018836923919
Blanchard-Fields, F., Suhrer-Roussel, L., & Hertzog, C. (1994). A confirmatory factor analysis of the Bem Sex Role Inventory: Old questions, new answers. Sex Roles, 30(7-8), 423-457.
Adjustment and Well-Being Research:
Taylor, M. C., & Hall, J. A. (1982). Psychological androgyny: Theories, methods, and conclusions. Psychological Bulletin, 92(2), 347-366. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.92.2.347
Bassoff, E. S., & Glass, G. V. (1982). The relationship between sex roles and mental health: A meta-analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 10(4), 105-112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000082104019
Historical Changes in Gender Roles:
Twenge, J. M. (1997). Changes in masculine and feminine traits over time: A meta-analysis. Sex Roles, 36(5-6), 305-325. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766650
A nurturing hyena with cubs — representing the spectrum of masculine, feminine, and androgynous traits measured by the BSRI (Bem Sex Role Inventory)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the BSRI measure?
The BSRI measures gender role orientation by assessing masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral personality characteristics. It treats masculinity and femininity as independent dimensions rather than opposites, allowing classification into four categories: masculine, feminine, androgynous (high in both), and undifferentiated (low in both). The scale evaluates how individuals identify with culturally defined gender-typed traits.
How long does the BSRI take to complete?
The BSRI takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants rate 60 personality traits on a 7-point Likert scale indicating how well each characteristic describes them. The brief administration time makes it practical for research studies, clinical assessments, and educational applications while providing comprehensive assessment of gender role identification.
Is the BSRI free to use?
The BSRI is copyrighted and administered by Mind Garden, Inc. Researchers must purchase licenses for formal research, clinical assessment, or commercial applications. While BSRI items appear in published literature for educational purposes, and some websites offer free versions for self-assessment demonstrations, proper licensing is required for large-scale studies and professional use.
How is the BSRI scored?
The BSRI is scored by calculating separate masculinity and femininity scores. Sum the 20 masculine items and divide by 20, then repeat for the 20 feminine items (ranges: 1-7). Using median-split classification, compare scores to population medians (M≈4.9, F≈5.0). High/low combinations on each dimension determine classification: androgynous, masculine, feminine, or undifferentiated.
What's the difference between BSRI and PAQ?
While both the BSRI and Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) measure gender roles bidimensionally, the BSRI focuses on personality traits and self-concept, whereas the PAQ emphasizes instrumental and expressive behaviors. The BSRI has 60 items versus PAQ's 24, providing more comprehensive assessment. The BSRI explicitly identifies androgyny as optimal, while the PAQ takes a more neutral stance on gender role outcomes.
How reliable is the BSRI?
The BSRI demonstrates strong reliability. Internal consistency ranges from α=0.80-0.86 for Masculinity and α=0.75-0.82 for Femininity. Test-retest reliability over four weeks is r=0.90 for both scales. The two-factor structure has been replicated cross-culturally, and reliability remains consistent across diverse populations and age groups, supporting the measure's psychometric soundness.
