Psychological Masculinity and Femininity: Relationship to Striving and Self-Concept in the Achievement and Interpersonal Domains

T h e relative inf luel ies of gender and individual differences in psychologi-cal masculinity and femininity on the achievement and interpersonal strivings, abilities, and self-concepts o f 176 male and female college students were investi-gated. T h e results indicate that psychological rnasculinity and femininity are better predictors of strivings and selfxoncepts in the achievement and interper-sonal domains than gender. Only with respect t o subjects ’ expected and ideal financial responsibilities, an area which is governed by strong societal sex role norms, does the influence o f gender surpass that of psychological masculinity and femininitv. ’I’hc results are discussed in terms of the personality strengths and social competencies that derive from masculine and feminine personality traits. Traditionally, niasculinity and femininity have been seen as oppo-site ends of a single dimension of personality traits, interests, and role behaviors which differentiate males and females. Thus, masculinity and femininity have been viewed as unitary phenomena, comprising tightly intercorrelated personality traits and role behaviors (i.e., attitudes, val-ues, interests and social responsibilities), and as dimorphic, i.e., the equivalent of biological gender (Pleck, 1976; Spence, Note 1). This con-ception has paralleled the traditional values of American society, accord-ing to which men are supposed to be masculine in their personality characteristics and interests, women are supposed to be feminine, and neither is supposed t o be much like the other (Bem, 1975)