CROSS-CULTURAL VALIDATION OF THE BEM SEX-ROLE INVENTORY IN ZIMBABWE

This study investigated the cross-cultural validity on the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) in Zimbabwe. The BSRI was administered to 249 female and 239 male Zimbabwean teacher-trainees. Both the Masculine and Feminine scales of the BSRI were highly reliable. All the BSRI Masculine scale items correlated more highly with the BSRI Masculine scale than with the Feminine scale. All the BSRI Feminine scale items correlated more highly with the Feminine scale than with the Masculine scale. Factor analysis, which yielded essentially univocal Masculine and Feminine factors, supported the factorial validity of the BSRI in Zimbabwe. Nineteen out of 20 Masculine scale items were judged to be significantly more desirable for males than females and 18 out of 20 Feminine scale items were judged to be significantly more desirable for females than males. Findings strongly support the cross-cultural validity of the BRSI among educated young Zimbabweans. © 1990.