Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Sixteen "well-meaning" and 16 "sincere" liberal males identified on the basis of their Attitudes Toward Women Scale and Bentler Questionnaire protocols, differed significantly in their sex-role self-perceptions, with well-meaning males describing themselves as more feminine. Well-meaning males also had significantly higher Crowne-Marlowe scores, suggesting greater susceptibility to social desirability pressures. Groups did not differ in responses to sexist and nonsexist propaganda, or to the bogus pipeline procedure. Results are discussed in terms of the "identity" and "social desirability" hypotheses forwarded by other researchers. Several methodological problems found in previous research as well as in the present study are identified as the source of much confusion and contradictory evidence regarding the measurement of sex-role attitudes.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Cook, S.W. , & Sellitz, C.A. A multiple-indicator approach to attitude measurement. Psychological Bulletin, 1964, 62, 36-55.

Crowne, D.P. ,& Marlowe, D. A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1960, 24, 349-354.

Ellis, L.J. , & Bentler, P.M. Traditional sex-determined role standards and sex stereotypes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 25, 25-34.

Gackenbach, J.I. , & Auerbach, S.M.

Empirical evidence of the phenomenon of the “well-meaning liberal male.”

Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1975, 31, 632-635.

Jones, E.E. , & Sigall, H. Where there's ignis, there may be fire. Psychological Bulletin, 1973, 79, 260-263.

Jones, E.E. , & Sigall, H. The bogus pipeline: A new paradigm for measuring affect and attitude. Psychological Bulletin, 1971, 76, 349-364.

O'Leary, V.E. Some attitudinal barriers to occupational aspirations in women . Psychological Bulletin, 1974, 81, 809-829.

Rosenkrantz, P.S. , Vogel, S.R. , Bee, H. , Broverman, I.K. , & Broverman, D.M. Sex role stereotypes and self-concepts in college students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1968, 32, 287-296.

Rosenthal, R. , & Rosnow, R.L. Artifact in behavioral research. New York: Academic Press, 1969.

10.

Sigall, H. , & Page, E. Current stereotypes: A little fading, a little faking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1971, 4, 227-228.

11.

Spence, J.T. , & Helmreich, R. The attitudes toward women scale: An objective instrument to measure attitudes toward the rights and roles of women in contemporary society. Journal Supplement Abstract Service to the American Psychological Association, 1972, 2, MS 153.

12.

Spence, J.T. , Helmreich, R. & Stapp, J. Likability, sex-role congruence of interest, and competence: It all depends on how you ask. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1975, 5, 93-109. (a)

13.

Spence, J.T. , Helmreich, R. & Stapp, J. Ratings of self and peers on sex role attributes and their relation to self-esteem and conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 32, 29-39. (b)

14.

Steinmann, H. , & Fox, D.J. Male-female perceptions of the female role in the United States. Journal of Psychology, 1966, 64, 265-276.

Measuring Sex-Role Attitudes: The Problem of the Well-Meaning Liberal Male

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References