Preliminary Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory in Pakistan

Structural patriarchy primarily manifests itself through gender inequalities, yet validated tools to measure sexist attitudes in culturally diverse settings are limited. Although the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory has been used globally, its factor structure has never been validated in Pakistan, which is the second-lowest country on the Global Gender Gap Index. To address this gap, the current study aimed to confirm the factor structure of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory on a heterogeneous sample of Pakistani adults. Following a non-probability, convenient sampling strategy, 2017 adults were recruited through a hybrid data collection approach involving both in-person and online formats. Results from confirmatory factor analysis showed that a 17-item modified version, after deleting five culturally irrelevant items, demonstrated superior fit indices (CFI=.95, RMSEA=.03). Findings were discussed in the sociocultural context of Pakistani society that highlighted the underlying gender dynamics, hence implicating the indigenous sociocultural notions of sexism. This study provides researchers and policymakers with a culturally appropriate tool to assess indigenous patterns of sexism in Pakistan that further contributes to a better understanding of local gender dynamics.