Masculinity, Femininity, and Male Scientists' Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance

Abstract

In this study, I investigated differences in self-esteem, self-acceptance, masculinity, femininity, and locus of control among sample populations of men, including scientists, other professionals, college students, mental health clients, and perpetrators of domestic violence. The Personal Orientation Inventory (Shostrom, 1974), Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966), and Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) were administered to subjects, together with a demographic data sheet. I used correlations to examine the relationship of masculinity, femininity and locus of control to self-esteem and self-acceptance and an analysis of variance to investigate differences between male scientists and other groups of men. Masculinity correlated with self-esteem for all but the student group, and internal locus of control correlated with self-esteem for all but the student and perpetrator groups. Self-acceptance correlated with masculinity for the client group and with internal locus of control for the student and client groups. I found no correlations with femininity. No significant differences existed between male scientists and other male professionals in self-esteem, masculinity, femininity, or locus of control. Self-acceptance scores were significantly lower for male scientists than for other male professionals.