Abstract Book of the 3rd Global Conference on Gender Studies
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Rethinking Gender Identities and Sexual Orientation: The Multidimensional Gender and Sexuality Inventory (MGSI)
Berivan Gürel, Dr. Helena Fornwagner, Dr. Stefan Palan
ABSTRACT:
“The traditional binary understanding of gender identities and sexual orientation, though long standard in both society and research, oversimplifies the true complexity of these concepts. We develop the Multidimensional Gender and Sexuality Inventory (MGSI), a more nuanced, multidimensional measurement tool to capture this complexity. The MGSI is based on five well-established, multi-item scales: the Multi-Gender Identity Questionnaire, the Sexual Orientation Questionnaire, the Transgender Congruence Scale, the Open Sex Role Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Discrimination.
Drawing on data from 1,305 U.S. participants (663 heterosexual, cisgender and 642 non-cisgender), and using exploratory factor analysis, the MGSI captures gender and sexuality beyond traditional binary frameworks. Its flexible, customizable format lets researchers select dimensions that match their research focus—be it gender identity, sexual orientation, or experiences of discrimination—offering them a comprehensive and flexible tool for investigating gender and sexuality in diverse contexts.”
Keywords: gender identity, sexual orientation, multidimensional gender and sexuality inventory, survey, factor analysis