The effect of social context on gender self-concept

In this study we re-examine the role of gender within the self-concept and challenge the assumption that our gender self-concept is static and consist ent across contexts. We used the Bern Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) to measure masculinity and femininity across six contexts. These six contexts were int eracting with same sex friends, interacting with other sex friends, interac ting at horne, work, and school, and interacting in a social context where one does not know many people. Two hundred twenty-three females and 52 male s from a large public university in the Southeast participated in the study . A majority of the participants (76%) were Caucasian with 10% being Hispan ic, 4% Asian, and 4% African American. Multivariate analyses of variance pr ovided strong evidence for differences across contexts for both males and f emales. The results indicated that we are dynamic beings and those characte ristics associated with gender are dynamic as well.