Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) Scale

Abstract

The Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) Scale is a critical psychological instrument developed by Julie Pulerwitz and Gary Barker in 2008. Its core function is to systematically measure men’s attitudes concerning traditional versus equitable gender norms. By quantifying the degree to which men endorse attitudes supporting either patriarchal dominance (inequitable views) or mutual respect and shared responsibilities (equitable views), the GEM Scale provides essential data for global health and development initiatives.

This instrument is widely utilized in programming aimed at promoting gender equity, especially in areas related to reproductive health, responsible fatherhood, and the prevention of violence against women. Its standardized and validated metric allows researchers and practitioners to effectively evaluate the impact of interventions designed to transform harmful gender attitudes across diverse cultural settings.

Keywords

Gender-Equitable Men Scale, GEM Scale, Gender norms, Masculinity, Gender roles, Attitudes measurement, Psychometric evaluation, Public health, Brazil, Violence prevention, Gender equity.

Authors

Julie Pulerwitz, Gary Barker.

Purpose

The primary mandate of the GEM Scale is to provide a reliable, quantitative measure of men’s adherence to or rejection of traditional masculine gender roles. Initially designed and validated using young men in Brazil, the instrument serves as a robust tool for evaluating the efficacy of public health interventions focused on attitude transformation and the promotion of more equitable behaviors.

Beyond evaluation, the scale functions as a vital diagnostic mechanism. it helps researchers identify specific dimensions of gender relations—such as sexual health decision-making, parenting involvement, and acceptance of violence—where deeply held, inequitable norms persist. Scores derived from the GEM Scale are critical indicators, often correlating significantly with observable real-world behaviors, including contraceptive use, domestic involvement, and the perpetration of intimate partner violence.

Construct

The GEM Scale operationalizes the latent psychological construct of attitudes toward gender equity, viewing it as a bipolar continuum. This construct is structured around two primary, inversely correlated factors: Inequitable Gender Norms and Equitable Gender Norms. This dual-factor structure allows for a nuanced assessment of masculinity, acknowledging that an individual may simultaneously hold both traditional and modern views.

The Inequitable Gender Norms factor captures adherence to patriarchal beliefs, emphasizing male sexual entitlement, rigid divisions of domestic labor, and the justification of male dominance. Conversely, the Equitable Gender Norms factor measures attitudes that support shared decision-making in relationships, mutual respect regarding sexual and reproductive health, and active, engaged paternal involvement in childcare. The scale successfully measures the complexity inherent in contemporary masculine identities.

Validity

The psychometric development of the GEM Scale established strong evidence across multiple types of validity. Construct validity was confirmed through rigorous factor analysis, which reliably demonstrated that the scale items clustered into the intended two distinct factors: Inequitable and Equitable Norms. This structure confirms that the instrument measures the intended theoretical constructs.

Furthermore, Content validity was ensured through comprehensive literature review and expert consultation in gender studies and public health, guaranteeing that the items adequately sample the full domain of gender relations, including parenting, sexual behavior, and violence acceptance. The scale also exhibits strong criterion validity, showing reliable predictive correlations with external behavioral measures, such as self-reported intimate partner violence and engagement in high-risk sexual practices.

Reliability

The GEM Scale demonstrates commendable internal consistency, which is the primary measure of its reliability. Initial evaluations conducted with young men in Brazil reported acceptable to strong Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for both the Inequitable and Equitable factors. These high internal consistency measures confirm that the items within each factor consistently tap into the same underlying dimension of gender attitudes.

The Inequitable Gender Norms subscale often registers particularly high reliability scores, attributed largely to its greater number of items and its clear focus on traditional, restrictive attitudes. The robust and stable reliability of the GEM Scale across diverse populations globally supports its use as a dependable metric for measuring changes in gender attitudes over time.

Factor Analysis

The structural integrity of the GEM Scale was established using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) during its initial development. This analysis conclusively supported a clear two-factor solution, which together accounted for a significant proportion of the variance observed in the responses. These two factors are formally labeled Inequitable Gender Norms (Factor 1) and Equitable Gender Norms (Factor 2).

Items loading heavily onto Factor 1 typically represent traditional patriarchal beliefs, including male sexual entitlement, rigid hierarchy within the home, and the acceptance or justification of violence against women. In contrast, items loading onto Factor 2 reflect modern, partnership-oriented perspectives, emphasizing mutual communication, shared responsibility in childcare and contraception, and emotional openness. While the final scale structure was refined by dropping poorly loading items, researchers should note that these dropped items may still hold relevance in specific cultural or demographic contexts.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report attitude inventory; Psychological scale.

Format: Likert-type response options (e.g., Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree).

Language Available: Portuguese (original), English, Spanish, and numerous other languages through subsequent cross-cultural adaptations.

Population Group: Primarily men and young men.

Age Group: Typically utilized with adolescents and young adults (e.g., 15–24 years), but applicable to adult males.

Population Details: Initially developed using young men in Brazil, the scale has been extensively adapted and implemented globally in public health and research settings focusing on male engagement and gender transformation.

Test Methodology: Administration is typically conducted via structured surveys or interviews. Scoring involves calculating separate mean or sum scores for the Inequitable and Equitable subscales. A higher score on the Inequitable subscale indicates a less equitable, more traditional attitude set.

Keywords

Masculinity index, Gender roles, Attitudes measurement, Social psychology, Public health intervention, Pulerwitz, Barker, Gender equity, Psychometrics, Violence prevention.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source).

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source).

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The GEM Scale was first published and validated in 2008 by Pulerwitz and Barker. While the scale items are widely disseminated for academic research, formal use in large-scale programs often requires permission from the original authors or associated organizations, such as Promundo. The scale is frequently employed in publicly funded research and development initiatives due to its established psychometric evaluation.

The original article detailing the scale’s development is: Pulerwitz, Julie, and Gary Barker. (2008). Measuring attitudes toward gender norms among young men in Brazil: Development and psychometric evaluation of the GEM Scale. Men and Masculinities, 10: 322–338.

The complete instrument and related documentation can be found in the compilation Measures for the assessment of dimensions of violence against women: A compendium by Michael Flood. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.svri.org/measures.pdf

Reference’s

Pulerwitz, Julie, and Gary Barker. (2008). Measuring attitudes toward gender norms among young men in Brazil: Development and psychometric evaluation of the GEM Scale. Men and Masculinities, 10: 322–338.

Flood, M. (Compiler). Measures for the assessment of dimensions of violence against women: A compendium. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.svri.org/measures.pdf

Items of the Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Factor 1: Inequitable Gender Norms

• It is the man who decides what type of sex to have.
• A woman’s most important role is to take care of her home and cook for her family.
• Men need sex more than women do.
• You don’t talk about sex‚ you just do it.
• Women who carry condoms on them are “easy.”
• A man needs other women‚ even if things with his wife are fine.
• There are times when a woman deserves to be beaten.
• Changing diapers‚ giving the kids a bath‚ and feeding the kids are the mother’s responsibility.
• It is a woman’s responsibility to avoid getting pregnant.
• A man should have the final word about decisions in his home.
• Men are always ready to have sex.
• A woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together.
• If a woman cheats on a man‚ it is okay for him to hit her.
• If someone insults me‚ I will defend my reputation‚ with force if I have to.
• I would be outraged if my wife asked me to use a condom.
• It is okay for a man to hit his wife if she won’t have sex with him.
• I would never have a gay friend.

Factor 2: Equitable Gender Norms

• A couple should decide together if they want to have children.
• In my opinion‚ a woman can suggest using condoms just like a man can.
• If a guy gets a woman pregnant‚ the child is the responsibility of both.
• A man should know what his partner likes during sex.
• It is important that a father is present in the lives of his children‚ even if he is no longer with the mother.
• A man and a woman should decide together what type of contraceptive to use.
• It is important to have a male friend that you can talk about your problems with.

Items that were dropped (but may still be relevant in other circumstances)

• It disgusts me when I see a man acting like a woman.
• Women should be virgins until they get married.
• If a man cheats on a woman‚ it is okay for her to hit him.
• A man always deserves the respect of his wife and children.
• Above all‚ a man needs respect.
• Real men only have sex with women.
• Men can take care of children just as well as women can.
• Women have the same right as men to study and to work outside of the house.
• I think it is ridiculous for a boy to play with dolls.
• If a man sees another man beating a woman‚ he should stop it.
• If she wants‚ a woman can have more than one sexual partner.