Here's a breakdown:
* Gender Role: Androgyny, in Bem's framework, describes a person who embodies both traditionally masculine and feminine traits and behaviors. This means they don't adhere to rigid societal expectations of how a man or woman "should" act. For example, an androgynous individual might be assertive (masculine) and nurturing (feminine).
* Gender Identity: While Bem's primary focus was on gender roles, her work also sheds light on gender identity. Someone who identifies as androgynous might feel they don't fit neatly into the binary categories of male or female. This can be separate from their gender expression and the roles they take on.
Bem's groundbreaking work, "The Measurement of Psychological Androgyny," offered a way to assess both aspects of androgyny. She argued that individuals with high scores on both masculine and feminine traits on her scale (the Bem Sex Role Inventory) were more flexible, adaptable, and psychologically healthy.
It's important to note that androgyny is not a singular, monolithic concept. There are varying perspectives and understandings within gender studies and psychology.
Ultimately, Bem's concept of androgyny highlights the fluidity and complexity of gender, challenging the rigid binary model that dominated previous thinking.