To examine the relationship between sex-role orientation and coping ab
ility in men with a managerial orientation, a demographic questionnair
e, the Zeitlin Coping Inventory and the Bem Sex-role Inventory were co
mpleted by 169 adult males undertaking the Master of Business Administ
ration (MBA) course at the University of Stellenbosch Graduate School
of Business. No significant difference was found between the global co
ping abilities of subjects with androgynous and masculine sex-role ori
entations, although both androgynous and masculine subjects showed sig
nificantly better coping abilities than subjects with feminine or undi
fferentiated sex-role orientations. Regarding coping styles, androgyno
us subjects displayed a significantly more flexible style in coping wi
th the environment than subjects with other sex-role orientations. No
significant difference was found between androgynous and masculine sub
jects regarding flexibility in coping with the self. The conclusion wa
s drawn that both androgyny and masculinity could serve as effective c
oping resources in men with a managerial orientation.