An Investigation of Measures of Modern and Old-Fashioned Sexism

• Published in: Social indicators research Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 39 - 50
• Main Authors: Morrison, Melanie A., Morrison, Todd G., Pope, Gregory A., Zumbo, Bruno D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.09.1999; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: African Americans; Attitude Measures; Beliefs; Canada; Cognitive Processes; College Students; Concepts; Construct Validity; Employment; Employment Level; Equality; Evaluation; Factor Analysis; Factor Structure; Females; Gender Bias; Gender Differences; Gender Discrimination; Gender equality; Gender equity; General studies; Investigations; Likert Scales; Males; Measurement; Men; Political power; Psychological tests; Psychometrics; Quantitative psychology; Racism; Salary Wage Differentials; Scales; Secondary Education; Sex discrimination; Sexes; Sexism; Social Indicators; Sociology; Sociology of the family. Age groups; Validity; Women; Womens rights; Canada; Belief; Sex equality; Attitude towards; Sexism; Modernity; Political Role; Affirmative action; Attitude Scale; Man; Woman; Economic role
• ISSN: 0303-8300; 1573-0921
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1006873203349

Working from the Principle of Beneficence we make the case that there is a need for adequate measures of sexism in men and women. Swim, Aikin, Hall and Hunter (1995) suggest that modern sexism represents a constellation of beliefs in which individuals: (a) disavow women's present-day discrimination; (b) reject women's demands for political and economic power; and (c) disapprove of policies designed to promote gender equality. To assess this construct, Swim et al. (1995) developed the Modern Sexism Scale (MSS), and to date, few studies have assessed its reliability and factor structure. Using data from 187 Canadian participants, confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the unidimensionality of the MSS and Swim and associates' (1995) Old-Fashioned Sexism Scale (OFSS). Results do not support Swim et al.'s conceptualization of modern sexism as a unidimensional construct; however, the OFSS fit a unidimensional model. The implications of these findings are discussed.