Masculine Gender Identity Scale for Females

Abstract

The Masculine Gender Identity Scale for Females (MGIS), developed by Blanchard and Freund (1983), is a self-administered, multiple-choice questionnaire designed to quantify the degree of gender identity deviation toward male-typical patterns in females, particularly those who are homosexual. The scale conceptualizes masculine gender identity as a continuous variable, measured by the extent to which an individual’s behavior and psychological history resemble that of female-to-male transsexuals.

The MGIS consists of two distinct subscales: Part A, comprising 20 items covering childhood preferences, activities, and cross-gender wishes, applicable to all females over 17; and Part B, comprising 9 items focusing on cross-dressing and erotic preferences, restricted to homosexual examinees. The scale serves as a companion instrument to the Feminine Gender Identity Scale for Males (FGIS).

Keywords

Masculine Gender Identity Scale for Females, MGIS, Ray Blanchard, Kurt Freund, Gender Identity, Homosexuality, Transsexualism, Cross-Gender Identification, Psychological Assessment.

Authors

Ray Blanchard, Kurt Freund.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Masculine Gender Identity Scale for Females (MGIS) is to quantitatively assess the magnitude of masculine gender identity in female populations. It was specifically developed to measure the degree of “masculinity” occurring in homosexual women.

The scale serves to differentiate empirically between groups expected to exhibit varying levels of masculine identification, particularly distinguishing between heterosexual females, non-transsexual homosexual females, and female-to-male transsexuals, allowing for the quantification of gender nonconformity as a continuous variable.

Construct

The MGIS measures Masculine Gender Identity, which the developers conceptualized as a continuous psychological variable. This construct reflects the degree to which a female’s behavioral history, preferences, and self-concept depart from typical female patterns and align instead with patterns characteristic of female-to-male transsexuals.

The scale encompasses two dimensions of this construct: Part A focuses on historical and childhood markers of gender nonconformity (e.g., preference for male playmates and games, childhood cross-gender fantasies, and predilection for stereotypically masculine chores). Part B addresses adult manifestations, specifically cross-dressing behavior and erotic preferences, which are presumed to be relevant only within the context of homosexual populations.

Validity

The construct validity of the MGIS was supported by its reliable discrimination among three distinct groups hypothesized to possess ascending degrees of masculine gender identity: heterosexual females, non-transsexual homosexual females, and female-to-male transsexuals. Scores consistently increased across these groups (heterosexuals scored lowest, transsexuals scored highest), demonstrating that the instrument measures the intended continuum of masculinity.

Specifically, the Part B subscale, administered exclusively to homosexual subjects (simple or transsexual), successfully discriminated reliably between simple homosexual females and female-to-male transsexuals. Furthermore, the researchers investigated potential confounding variables, finding that scores on both Part A and Part B showed no significant correlation with age. Correlations between education and Part A scores were minimal (ranging from .12 to .15), indicating that education accounts for only about 2% of the variance in Part A scores.

Reliability

Internal consistency reliability was assessed using the Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient in the original study by Blanchard and Freund (1983).

• The alpha reliability coefficient for Part A (20 items concerning childhood gender nonconformity) was found to be .89.
• The alpha reliability coefficient for Part B (9 items concerning cross-dressing and erotic preferences) was found to be .92.

These high values indicate excellent internal consistency for both subscales, confirming that the items within each part reliably measure the same underlying construct.

Factor Analysis

Blanchard and Freund (1983) conducted a factor analysis on the scale items to examine the dimensionality of the measure.

For Part A, the factor analysis revealed a structure dominated by a single, strong factor, which accounted for 31% of the total variance and 70% of the common variance. Additionally, three other weak factors were identified, but each accounted for less than 6% of the total variance, confirming the strong unidimensional nature of Part A. For Part B, the analysis indicated the presence of only one factor, which accounted for 57% of the total variance, strongly supporting its unidimensionality.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-administered psychological questionnaire

Format: Multiple-choice instrument consisting of 29 total items distributed across two subscales: Part A (20 items) and Part B (9 items). Examinees are instructed to endorse one and only one response option per item.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Females

Age Group: Part A may be administered to any female over the age of 17. Part B is restricted to homosexual females.

Population Details: The scale was developed using and validated across all-female samples, including 236 heterosexuals, 44 simple homosexuals (not desiring sex-change surgery), and 50 female-to-male transsexuals.

Test Methodology: Scoring weights are assigned to each response option (indicated in parentheses in the accompanying item list). The total score for each subscale is the sum of item scores, and the full scale score is the summation of the two subscale totals. Higher scores denote a greater degree of masculine gender identity. Part A takes approximately 10 minutes, and Part B takes approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Keywords

Psychological Measurement, Clinical Psychology, Gender Nonconformity, Sexual Orientation, Cross-Dressing, FTM, Childhood Gender Role, Psychometrics.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Ray Blanchard, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1983

Permissions and Fees: Information regarding current permissions and licensing fees is not provided in the original source material. Researchers should contact the corresponding author for usage rights.

Reference’s

• Blanchard, R., & Freund, K. (1983). Measuring masculine gender identity in females. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 205–214.
• Freund, K., Langevin, R., Satterberg, J., & Steiner, B. W. (1977). Extension of the Gender Identity Scale for Males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 6, 507–519.
• Freund, K., Nagler, E., Langevin, R., Zajac, A., & Steiner, B. W. (1974). Measuring feminine gender identity in homosexual males. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 3, 249–260.

Items of the Masculine Gender Identity Scale for Females

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

Instructions: The following questions ask what sex role you have preferred at different times of your life, what were your childhood fantasies and activities, and how you felt about being born a female. Try to answer questions pertaining to childhood in terms of the way you felt then and not the way you see things now.

Please circle one and only one answer to each question. If you are not sure of the meaning of a question, you may ask the person giving the questionnaire to explain it to you. There is no time limit for answering these questions.

Part A: Items Administered to All Females

1. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you prefer:

   1. to play with boys (2)

   2. to play with girls (0)

   3. didn’t make any difference (1)

   4. not to play with other children (1)

   5. don’t remember (1)

2. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you:

   1. prefer boys’ games and toys (soldiers, football, etc.) (2)

   2. prefer girls’ games and toys (dolls, cooking, sewing, etc.) (0)

   3. like or dislike both about equally (1)

   4. had no opportunity to play games or with toys (1)

3. In childhood, were you very interested in the work of a garage mechanic? Was this:

   1. prior to age 6 (1)

   2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

   3. probably in both periods (1)

   4. do not remember that I was very interested in the work of a garage mechanic (0)

4. Between ages 6 and 14, which did you like more: romantic stories or adventure stories?

   1. liked romantic stories more (0)

   2. liked adventure stories more (2)

   3. it did not make any difference (1)

5. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you like to do jobs or chores which are usually done by men?

   1. yes (2)

   2. no (0)

   3. don’t remember (1)

6. Between the ages of 13 and 16, did you like to do jobs or chores which are usually done by men?

   1. yes (2)

   2. no (0)

   3. don’t remember (1)

7. Between the ages of 6 and 12, when you read a story did you imagine that you were:

   1. the male in the story (cowboy; detective, soldier, explorer, etc.) (2)

   2. the female in the story (the girl being saved, etc.) (0)

   3. the male sometimes and the female other times (1)

   4. neither the male nor the female (1)

   5. did not read stories (1)

8. In childhood or at puberty, did you like mechanics magazines? Was this:

   1. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

   2. between ages 12 and 14 (1)

   3. probably in both periods (1)

   4. do not remember that I liked mechanics magazines (0)

9. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you sometimes imagine yourself as being the courageous leader of others?

   1. yes (2)

   2. no (0)

   3. unsure (1)

10. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you wish you had been born a boy instead of a girl?

    1. often (2)

    2. occasionally (1)

    3. never (0)

11. Between the ages of 13 and 16, did you wish you had been born a boy instead of a girl?

    1. often (2)

    2. occasionally (1)

    3. never (0)

12. Since the age of 17, have you wished you had been born a boy instead of a girl?

    1. often (2)

    2. occasionally (1)

    3. never (0)

13. Do you think your appearance is:

    1. very feminine (0)

    2. feminine (0)

    3. a little masculine (1)

    4. quite masculine (2)

14. In childhood did you sometimes imagine, in your fantasies, yourself physically defending someone against a monster, a dangerous animal, or “evil” people?

    1. prior to age 6 (1)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

    3. probably in both periods (1)

    4. do not remember such fantasies (0)

15. In childhood fantasies, did you sometimes wish you could go hunting big game? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (1)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

    3. probably in both periods (1)

    4. do not remember such fantasies (0)

16. In childhood, did you wish you would become very strong physically? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (1)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

    3. probably in both periods (1)

    4. do not remember the desire to become very strong physically (0)

17. In childhood, was there ever a period in which you wished you would, when adult, become a dressmaker or dress designer? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (0)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (0)

    3. probably in both periods (0)

    4. do not remember having this desire (1)

18. In childhood fantasies, did you sometimes imagine yourself driving a racing car? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (1)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

    3. probably in both periods (1)

    4. do not remember having this fantasy (0)

19. In childhood, did you ever wish to become a dancer? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (0)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (0)

    3. probably in both periods (0)

    4. do not remember having this desire (1)

20. In childhood, did you ever wish to become a pilot, or did you fantasize yourself being a pilot? Was this:

    1. prior to age 6 (1)

    2. between ages 6 and 12 (1)

    3. probably in both periods (1)

    4. do not remember having such a desire (0)

       Part B: Items Administered Only to Homosexual Females (Transsexual or Nontranssexual)

21. Between the ages of 6 and 12, did you put on men’s underwear or clothing?

    1. once a month or more, for about a year or more (2)

    2. (less often, but) several times a year for about 3 years or more (1)

    3. very seldom did this during this period (0)

    4. never did this during this period (0)

    5. don’t remember (0)

22. Between the ages of 13 and 16, did you put on men’s underwear or clothing?

    1. once a month or more, for a least a year (2)

    2. (less often, but) several times a year for at least 2 years (1)

    3. very seldom did this during this period (0)

    4. never did this during this period (0)

23. Since the age of 17, have you put on men’s underwear or clothing?

    1. once a month or more, for at least a year (2)

    2. (less often, but) several times a year for at least 2 years (1)

    3. very seldom did this during this period (0)

    4. never did this during this period (0)

24. If you have ever wished to have a male body rather than a female one, was this:

    1. mainly to please females but also for your own satisfaction (2)

    2. mainly for your own satisfaction but also to please females (2)

    3. entirely for your own satisfaction (2)

    4. entirely to please females (1)

    5. about equally to please females and for your own satisfaction (2)

    6. have never wanted to have a male body (0)

25. Have you ever felt like a man?

    1. only if you were wearing a least one piece of male underwear or clothing (1)

    2. while wearing at least one piece of male underwear or clothing and only occasionally at other times also (1)

    3. at all times and for at least one year (2)

    4. never felt like a man (2)

26. When completely dressed in female clothing (underwear, etc.), would you:

    1. have a feeling of anxiety because of this (2)

    2. have no feeling of anxiety but have another kind of unpleasant feeling because of this (2)

    3. have no unpleasant feelings to do with above (0)

27. What kind of sexual contact with a female would you have preferred on the whole, even though you may not have done it?

    1. touching your partner’s privates with your hands (1)

    2. touching your partner’s privates with your mouth (1)

    3. you would have preferred one of those two modes but you cannot decide which one (1)

    4. your partner touching your privates with her hands (0)

    5. your partner touching your privates with her mouth (0)

    6. you would have preferred one of those two latter modes but you cannot decide which one (0)

    7. you would have liked all four modes equally well (0)‌

    8. you would have preferred some other mode of sexual contact (1)

28. What qualities did you like in females to whom you were sexually attracted?

    1. slightly masculine behavior (0)

    2. slightly feminine behavior (1)

    3. very feminine behavior (2)

29. Would you have preferred a partner:

    1. who was willing to have you lead her (2)

    2. who was willing to lead you (0)

    3. you didn’t care (1)