Citation

Reigeluth CS, Addis ME. Psychol. Men Masc. 2021; 22(2): 306-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/men0000318

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite historical shifts in some parts of the world indicating greater openness to more fluid and less restrictive notions of "manhood," boys continue to experience significant pressures to conform to dominant masculine norms through policing of masculinity. The Policing of Masculinity Scale (POMS) was developed to measure this pervasive gender socialization process that can impact boys' functioning and well-being. Prior to the development of the POMS, there had been no quantitative scale through which to measure the range of normative gender policing behaviors experienced by boys during adolescence and other developmental periods.

FINDINGS from exploratory factor and other analyses on the POMS (N = 227) demonstrated evidence for validity and reliability with this sample and functional utility for its Agent, Target, and Emotional Impact Scales. For the primary Agent and Target Scales, three factors emerged, including Verbal Policing Epithets, Physical Policing Challenges, and Masculinity Deviations, providing evidence for the range of mediums through which boys receive the message that they are not "man enough." In support of construct and criterion validity for this study, the POMS exhibited significant relationships with a range of constructs and well-being outcomes including teasing, masculine norms, homophobic and misogynistic attitudes, hyperactivity, school attitudes and performance, and emotional problems. In this time of greater attention to issues facing boys and men, the POMS will enable the exploration of policing of masculinity in new and multidimensional ways, and contribute to more fully understanding the social, developmental, and psychological implications of masculine gender socialization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en