Modern Sexism Scale – MSS
Measures subtle, covert, and traditional sexist beliefs and attitudes toward gender roles and discrimination.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Modern Sexism Scale – MSS was developed by Swim, J. K., Aikin, K. J., Hall, W. S., & Hunter, B. A. (1995). It is designed to measure Sexism (Modern and Old-Fashioned). The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 13 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Old-Fashioned Sexism, Modern Sexism.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Old-Fashioned Sexism | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Modern Sexism | 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | 8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 5 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 13 to 65. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low endorsement of sexist beliefs: 13 – 26
- Moderate endorsement of sexist beliefs: 27 – 51
- High endorsement of sexist beliefs: 52 – 65
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.