The Relationship of Women's Sex-Role Identity to Self-Esteem and Ego Development

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship of women's sex-role identity to self-esteem and ego development. One hundred fifty-three female undergraduate students at the University of Maryland were the volunteer Ss for this study. During class time these persons completed the Index of Adjustment and Values, used to measure self-esteem, and the Sentence Completion Test, ussed to measure ego development. From this pool of Ss four sex-role identity groups were determined: androgynous women, feminine women, masculine women, and undifferentiated women. Twenty-five from each group were randomly selected to comprise a final sample of 100 women. Results of the self-esteem analyses supported previous findings that androgynous women possess a higher degree of self-esteem than stereotypically feminine women and undifferentiated women, but revealed no significant difference in self-esteem between androgynous and masculine women. In contrast, the level of ego development of androgynous women was not significantly different from that of feminine and undifferentiated women but was significantly higher than that of masculine women. Overall results support the theory that a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics is beneficial for women in terms of both self-esteem and ego development.

Self‐Reported Social Desirability in Sex‐Stereotyped and Androgynous Individuals

“…Hogan (1977), however, confirmed Bem's (1974) findings that females score significantly higher than males on the social desirability scale of the BSRI. This seems to conflict with other reports regarding the tenuous relationship between femininity and social adjustment, self-esteem, and positive peer evaluation (Falbo, 1977;Harris & Schwab, 1979;Schiff & Koopman, 1978;Spence et al, 1975).…”

“…These factors combine well with the basically nurturant factor found in the femininity scale by Gaa et al (1979), Gaudreau (1977), Waters et al (1977), and the present study. Bem (1976), however, has based much of her research on the assumption that a high degree of sex-typing may be undesirable because of its negative relation to self-esteem, and there are several studies that support this contention (Nevill, 1977;Schiff & Koopman, 1978;Spence et al, 1975). Although at first glance the present findings may seem contradictory, it may be that self-esteem is a multidimensional trait.…”

“…than feminine females, but the highest scores in self-esteem were reported for androgynous females. Schiff and Koopman (1978) investigated women's sex-role identity as it related to self-esteem and ego development. Results indicated that androgynous women possessed significantly higher self-esteem and ego development than feminine women, but there was no significant difference in the self-esteem of androgynous and masculine women.…”

Androgyny in the Mirror of Self-Actualisation and Spiritual Health

“…The present study further substantiates the argument for a relationship between a more flexible perception of gender, and thus possession of an integrated Gender Identity, and greater Self-Actualisation and spiritual health. Additionally, it increases the validity and reliability of previous research in this area; studies using the BSRI to determine Androgyny [21,23,63,66] consistently support the theoretical advantages of such a character (as was found here) and so it seems likely that conflicting results are caused by less appropriate measures of Gender Role; for example the Sex Role Survey [25]. This is further reinforced by the persistence of positive scores on alternative tests of Self-Actualisation (specifically the POI here), and thus strengthens the utility of making comparisons with previous results obtained by either the SCT or general comparisons with isolated Self-Actualising traits; for example, Self-Esteem [66].…”

“…In addition, those identified as more Self-Actualising (by the POI) show less rigidity in their female stereotypes [60] and a more liberal and progressive (namely pro-feminist) attitude to women's prospects [61], again reflecting the theme of cognitive flexibility. Selfesteem, traditionally attributed primarily to men, has also proved to be higher amongst Androgynous women, whether classified by the PAQ [62] or the BSRI; as was their level of Ego Development [63]. Men who demonstrated high levels of Ego Development [64] and Psychosocial Development [65] were also more likely to be categorised as Androgynous and engaged in less sex-typing.…”