The adolescent masculinity ideology in relationships scale development and validation of a new measure for boys

This article presents a new scale to measure adolescent boys ’ internalization of mascu-line norms as evidenced by their attitudes and beliefs about what constitutes appropriate behavior for males within interpersonal relationships. Framing masculinity ideology within a relational paradigm, the theoretical foundations of the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (AMIRS) emphasize that it is through and within rela-tionships that masculine norms become personally meaningful and directly consequen-tial to adolescent boys. Designed specifically for use with adolescents, the AMIRS derives from adolescent boys’narratives about their perceptions and experiences of mas-culinity, particularly in their peer relationships. Correlation and regression analyses indicate a negative association between the AMIRS and self-esteem, suggesting the double-edged sword of masculinity. That is, despite the advantages of status, alignment with hegemonic masculinity may hinder adolescent boys ’ psychological health, for instance, by limiting the ways that they are able to express themselves and engage in their interpersonal relationships. Key words: boys; adolescence; masculinity; gender roles; socialization, relationships; development Over the past two decades, feminist researchers have highlighted ways in which aspects of conventional norms of femininity can contribute to the social and psychological oppression of girls and women (Bartky 1990