The Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale is a theoretically-based measure of support for inequitable and equitable gender norms within sexual and intimate relationships. Designed for use with men to evaluate interventions that target gender-related attitudes and related risk and prevention behaviors.
Developed by:
Julie Pulerwitz (Population Council/PATH), Gary Barker (Instituto Promundo)
Measure domains:
Inequitable Gender Norms
Equitable Gender Norms
Domestic work and child care
Homophobia
Sexual Relations
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Violence
Equitable Gender Norms
Domestic work and child care
Homophobia
Sexual Relations
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Violence
Items and subscales:
24 items
2 subscales
2 subscales
Outcomes predicted:
Condom use with a primary partner Condom use with a secondary partner Currently using a contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy Education level Intimate Partner Violence [perpetrator]
Cronbach's alpha:
Entire scale:
0.81
IGN subscale: 0.85
EGN subscale: 0.77
0.81
IGN subscale: 0.85
EGN subscale: 0.77
Study population(s):
Young men ages 15-24 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Additional information:
The scale has been successfully applied to both men and women and adapted for use in multiple contexts. Subscales can be used independently or in conjunction with one another.
Measure validated?:
Y
Link(s) to Validation Study and/or Measure:
Uses in Other Studies:
Verma, R. K., Pulerwitz, J., Mahendra, V., Khandekar, S., Barker, G., Fulpagare, P., & Singh, S. K. (2006). Challenging and Changing Gender Attitudes among Young Men in Mumbai, India. Reproductive Health Matters, 14(28), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(06)28261-2
Stephenson, R., Bartel, D., & Rubardt, M. (2012). Constructs of power and equity and their association with contraceptive use among men and women in rural Ethiopia and Kenya. Global Public Health, 7(6), 618–634. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2012.672581
Shattuck, D., Burke, H., Ramirez, C., Succop, S., Costenbader, B., Attafuah, J. D., Mndeme, E., Mbwambo, J., Guest, G. (2013). Using the Inequitable Gender Norms Scale and Associated HIV Risk Behaviors among Men at High Risk for HIV in Ghana and Tanzania. Men and Masculinities, 16(5), 540–559. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X13502730
Vu, L., Pulerwitz, J., Burnett-Zieman, B., Banura, C., Okal, J., & Yam, E. (2017). Inequitable Gender Norms From Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood in Uganda: Tool Validation and Differences Across Age Groups. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 60(2S2), S15–S21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.09.027
Ghanotakis, E., Hoke, T., Wilcher, R., Field, S., Mercer, S., Bobrow, E. A., . . . Mandera, I. (2017). Evaluation of a male engagement intervention to transform gender norms and improve family planning and HIV service uptake in Kabale, Uganda. Glob Public Health, 12(10), 1297-1314. 10.1080/17441692.2016.1168863
Diamond-Smith, N., Treleaven, E., Murthy, N., & Sudhinaraset, M. (2017). Women's empowerment and experiences of mistreatment during childbirth in facilities in Lucknow, India: results from a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 17(Suppl 2), 335. 10.1186/s12884-017-1501-7
Pettifor, A., Lippman, S. A., Selin, A. M., Peacock, D., Gottert, A., Maman, S., . . . MacPhail, C. (2015). A cluster randomized-controlled trial of a community mobilization intervention to change gender norms and reduce HIV risk in rural South Africa: study design and intervention. BMC Public Health, 15, 752. 10.1186/s12889-015-2048-z
Raj, A., Silverman, J. G., Klugman, J., Saggurti, N., Donta, B., & Shakya, H. B. (2018). Longitudinal analysis of the impact of economic empowerment on risk for intimate partner violence among married women in rural Maharashtra, India. Soc Sci Med, 196, 197-203. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.042
Nanda, G., Schuler, S. R., & Lenzi, R. (2013). The influence of gender attitudes on contraceptive use in Tanzania: new evidence using husbands' and wives' survey data. J Biosoc Sci, 45(3), 331-344. 10.1017/s0021932012000855
Jewkes, R., Sikweyiya, Y., Morrell, R., & Dunkle, K. (2011). Gender inequitable masculinity and sexual entitlement in rape perpetration South Africa: findings of a cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 6(12), e29590. 10.1371/journal.pone.0029590
Uses in Other Studies Links:
Citation of original article
Get citationPulerwitz, J., & Barker, G. (2008). Measuring attitudes toward gender norms among young men in Brazil: Development and psychometric evaluation of the GEM Scale. Men and Masculinities
, 10(3), 322-338. doi:10.1177/1097184X06298778
, 10(3), 322-338. doi:10.1177/1097184X06298778