Reconceptualizing femininity and masculinity: From gender roles to gender self-confidence

Abstract

A paradigm shift is proposed whereby researchers move from a stereotypical sex-role conception of the psychological constructs of femininity and masculinity to one that respects diversity in perspectives of what femininity and masculinity may mean to various individuals. A review of the literature revealed gender self-confidence as a viable yet overlooked construct for masculinity and femininity research. Two dimensions of gender self-confidence, identified as gender self-definition and gender self-acceptance, are proposed as constructs for further exploration based upon analyses of a new measure of gender self-confidence, the Hoffman Gender Scale (HGS). Discriminant validity of the HGS is s..