Testing a model of socially desirable and undesirable gender-role attributes

A recently outlined model of gender-role attributes (K. Korabik, 1999; D. R . McCreary & K. Korabik, 1994) incorporates two complimentary notions: (I) that possessing too little agency or communion (i.e., undersocialization) i s undesirable and (2) that too much agency or communion unmitigated by the other (i.e., oversocialization) is undesirable. The present study sought to confirm the relationships proposed in this model between desirable agentic and communal characteristics and these undesirable gender-role constructs. A group of mostly Caucasian undergraduates completed measures of socially desirable and undesirable gender-role attributes Structural equation modell ing was used to confirm the proposed gender-role model. Results showed that the socially desirable gender-role trait components were related to the un desirable components in the manner predicted by the differentiated multidim ensional gender-role model.