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Gender Role Beliefs Scale

How strongly do you subscribe to traditional gender roles? Take this test to find out.

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

November 12, 2024

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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Gender role beliefs refer to the extent to which an individual subscribes to traditional ideas about the roles and behaviors appropriate for men and women. These beliefs are rooted in cultural, societal and familial influences. For many people, gender roles influence personal decisions, career choices and even interactions within relationships.

Beliefs about gender roles significantly shape how we view ourselves and others. Gender roles dictate how we choose to show up in the world. Understanding how these beliefs affect us is essential, as they can restrict personal growth. Gender roles can even strain relationships, as expectations may hinder open communication and mutual understanding.

The value of a scale measuring beliefs about gender roles lies in its ability to reveal often unconscious biases around gender. This scale provides insight into how deeply these beliefs influence one's choices, relationships and worldview. It is a tool that can help people understand how gender role beliefs impact various aspects of life.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: Kerr Melanson, P. S., & Holden, R. R. (1996). Development of the gender role beliefs scale (GRBS). Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 11(5), 3.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. It is disrespectful for a man to swear in the presence of a lady.

2. Women should expect men to offer them seats on buses.

3. Homosexual relationships shouldn't be as socially accepted as heterosexual relationships.

4. The initiative in courtship should usually come from the man.

5. It bothers me more to see a woman who is pushy than a man who is pushy.

6. When sitting down at the table, proper respect demands that the gentleman hold the lady's chair.

7. Women should not have as much sexual freedom as men.

8. Women should appreciate the protection and support that men have traditionally given them.

9. Women with children should not work outside the home if they don't have to financially.

10. I find it unsavory when a woman doesn't like to wear skirts or dresses.

11. The husband should be regarded as the legal representative of the family group in all matters of law.

12. I don't like women who are outspoken.

13. Except perhaps in very special circumstances, a gentleman should never allow a lady to pay for the taxi, buy the tickets or pay the check.

14. Some equality in marriage is good, but by and large, the husband ought to have the main say-so in family matters.

15. Men should continue to show courtesies to women, such as holding open the door or helping them with their coats.

16. A woman should never be the one to propose marriage.

17. Women should be concerned with their duties of childrearing and housekeeping rather than with their desires for professional and business careers.

18. Swearing and obscenity is more repulsive in the speech of a woman than a man.

19. Some professions and types of businesses are more suitable for men than women.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.