Gender Socialization Scale (GSS)
Measures the degree of adherence to traditional, egalitarian, and restrictive gender role socialization messages among adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Gender Socialization Scale (GSS) was developed by Marina Epstein (2008). It is designed to measure Gender Socialization. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 83 items organized into 9 factors/subscales: Traditional Gender Roles, Acceptant and Egalitarian, Nice and Pleasant, Anti-Gay, Big and Tough, Body Consciousness, Sexual Double Standard, Abstinence, Sex-Positive.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Gender Roles | 25,35,42,59,62,69,71,72,74,80 | 10 |
| Acceptant and Egalitarian | 4,9,15,20,30,46,64,67,75,79 | 10 |
| Nice and Pleasant | 7,11,37,61,65,77,82 | 7 |
| Anti-Gay | 17,38,43,52 | 4 |
| Big and Tough | 13,21,40,50,54,66 | 6 |
| Body Consciousness | 24,36,56 | 3 |
| Sexual Double Standard | 16,18,27,44,53,60,70,76,78,83 | 10 |
| Abstinence | 12,22,33,41,45,68,73 | 7 |
| Sex-Positive | 19,26,29,51,81 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = None, 1 = A Little, 2 = Some, 3 = A Lot.
The scale includes 1 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 0 to 3. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale scores are calculated as the mean of the items within each subscale, ranging from 0 to 3. Higher scores indicate stronger endorsement of that specific socialization dimension.: 0 – 3
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Traditional Gender Roles: alpha = .87; Acceptant and Egalitarian: alpha = .83; Big & Tough: alpha = .77; Nice and Pleasant: alpha = .62; Anti-Gay: alpha = .84; Body Consciousness: alpha = .74; Sexual Double Standard: alpha = .88; Sex Positive: alpha = .69; Abstinence: alpha = .80.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.