Gender Role Test

Is it possible to combine masculinity and femininity equally? Most people would say no, and and most researchers agreed until the 1970s. Masculinity and femininity were viewed as opposite sets of qualities. It was believed that the more one was expressed, the less pronounced the other should be. The male gender role was opposed to the female one, and mutually exclusive definitions were used to describe these concepts.

However, social psychologist Dr. Sandra Lipsitz Bem suggested that a person can have a high level of masculinity and femininity at the same time. Moreover, such a combination is normal for many people and is often described as androgynous. The result of her work was the gender schema theory and the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI),which is still widely used to assess gender-role traits.

The test on this page is a free, simplified adaptation inspired by Bem’s inventory. The PT Gender-Role Interactive Test is a modern questionnaire for measuring masculinity and femininity.

How accurate is gender role theory? Bem’s work has been criticized for not fully accounting for cultural, religious, and social differences across countries. Expectations around gender roles also shift over time within the same culture. Critics have also questioned the strength of the evidence behind early versions of these measures, though later research has explored and adapted the framework in different ways.

Gender stereotypes have changed significantly over the past decades, and ideas about masculinity and femininity have become more complex. For example, confidence, leadership, and a willingness to confront others to defend your interests are not seen as exclusively masculine. Tests based on Bem’s theory are best treated as educational and historical tools rather than definitive measurements.