Bem Sex-Role Inventory Short Form
12-item quick assessment of gender role orientation
Measures gender role orientation. This short form selects 12 trait adjectives with the best discriminant power.
Masculinity, femininity, and androgyny
The Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) challenges the idea that masculinity and femininity are opposite ends of a single spectrum. Instead, Sandra Bem proposed that they are independent dimensions — meaning someone can be high on both (androgynous), low on both, or high on one and low on the other.
The four categories
- Masculine — high on masculine traits, low on feminine
- Feminine — high on feminine traits, low on masculine
- Androgynous — high on both
- Undifferentiated — low on both
About this scale
Sandra Bem developed the BSRI in 1974, with the short form (BSRI-12) used here containing 12 items. The original had 60 items.
Research shows that androgynous individuals tend to be more flexible and adaptable across situations — they can draw on both "masculine" and "feminine" behavioral repertoires as needed.
Treat the results as material for reflection, not a verdict. Gender roles are culturally influenced and have changed significantly since the BSRI was developed. The results should be interpreted in that context.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 12 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.