Bem Sex Role Inventory

The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) was created by Sandra Bem in 1974 as a way to oppose the polarizing views of femininity and masculinity and their relation to one anotherhttps://openpsychometrics.org/tests/OSRI/. At this time, the idea of feminity and masculinity were that they existed separate from one another and that a person identified as either feminine or masculine. Bem disagreed, instead positing the idea that each individual had both feminine and masculine traits which could exist at the same time. Bem's goal for creating the BSRI was to propose that it was not only normal for a person to host both feminine and masculine qualities, but it was psychologically healthier to have bothhttps://www.verywellmind.com/sandra-bem-biography-2795500. Bem created the description of "androgynous," used to define a person who embraces both masculine and feminine traits. 
A strength of the BSRI and Bem's work is that it generated awareness and popularity surrounding the term "androgynous"Hoffman, R. M., & Borders, L. D. (2001). Twenty-five years after the Bem Sex-Role Inventory: A reassessment and new issues regarding classification variability. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 39-55.. Literature surrounding feminist theories have debated Bem's work and some argue that creating the term "androgyny" and continuing to use terms other than "masculine" and "feminine" will still perpetuate gendered labeling. 
The BSRI is currently being used educationally, and discussion continues to focus on the need to label gender in dichotomous terms. Bem created conversation about why individuals choose to describe themselves with these traits, and the BSRI has sparked conversation around whether the terms "masculine" and "feminine" need to be redefined. 
=== Limitations ===
Bem wrote in her autobiography that she was not ready to properly develop the BSRI for official use and was surprised by its popularity . The BSRI should not be used scientifically, as it is not currently supported by research. Critics of Bem's theory include suggestions that further research is needed to explore the terms "feminine," "masculine" and "androgynous." 
Further Readings 
Sex typing and androgyny: further explorations of the expressive domain
Desirability of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory Items for Women and Men: A Comparison Between African Americans and European Americans
Sex role adaptability: One consequence of psychological androgyny.
Category:1970s
Category:Feminism
Category:Gender roles
Category:Sex and Gender