The relationship of masculinity and femininity to the Big Five personality dimensions among a Chinese sample

The aim in this study was to examine the relationship of masculinity and femininity to the Big Five personality dimensions in a Chinese context. Using the Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) and IPIP Big Five factor markers (Goldberg, 2001), we assessed data from an Internet survey of 322 heterosexual men, 253 homosexual men, 942 heterosexual women,and 288 homosexual women in China. Controlling for age and education, masculinity was strongly predicted on extraversion, conscientiousness, intellect, and, to a lesser degree, on agreeableness, and femininity was predicted strongly on agreeableness across gender, sexual orientation, and occupation. The predictions of masculinity and femininity on emotional stability were very small, which may be a feature unique to Chinese culture.