Androgyny

Sex:

The biological differences between men and women depending on hormones, chromosomes and anatomy.

Gender:

The psychological, social and cultural differences between men and women depending on identity, attitudes and behaviours.

Androgyny:

A balance between masculine and feminine traits. E.g. Bem’s sex role inventory (1-7 point scale on traits):

High fem + high masc = androgynous

High fem + low masc = fem

Low fem + high masc = masc

Low fem + low masc = undifferentiated

High internal validity

Androgyny is measured quantitatively (easy analysis). Piloted 1000 students and broadly corresponded with their own description of their gender identity.

Relies on self-report

Many people don’t have good insight into their personality, traits and behaviours. Gender is a social construct so it is open to interpretation. Understand of the 7-point system may differ.

Reliable measurement

Developed by asking 50 male and 50 female judges to rate 200 traits in terms of how they represented masculinity and femininity. The 20 that scored highest for each category were used.