Using the Internalized Misogyny Scale Across Sexual Orientations: Measurement Invariance and Item Factor Analysis

AbstractThe Internalized Misogyny Scale (IMS) is one measure developed to assess internalized sexism among non-heterosexual identified women. To use any instrument across various groups, however, it must exhibit cross-group equivalence in how its items relate to the latent traits it measures. Thus, measurement invariance across heterosexual identified and non-heterosexual identified women was examined in a sample of 712 women (503 heterosexual identified women and 209 non-heterosexual identified women). The results showed that internalized sexism was perceived the same across the groups, providing evidence that the IMS subscales that were previously developed only with non-heterosexual identified women can be used for heterosexual identified women as well. Results of tests for structural invariance —lower factor levels of internalized sexism among non-heterosexual identified women as compared to heterosexual identified women—are also discussed. In addition to the measurement invariance, item factor analysis revealed adequate model fit of the hypothesized three-dimensional structure of the IMS. Researchers interested in translating the scale into other languages or revising the scale into a different version need to consider four residual relations that the current study demonstrated. Helping professionals can use the IMS to assess internalized sexism of themselves and their clients t o increase their awareness and reduce the detrimental impact of sexism.
Source: Sex Roles - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research