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

Abstract

The 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 to increase their awareness and reduce the detrimental impact of sexism.