Relationship among ego identity status, field-independence, and traditional femininity

Women in those identity statuses defined by occupational, ideological, and sexual commitment were significantly more field-independent than women in those statuses which were not committed to elements of psychosocial identity (Moratorium and Diffusion).

Abstract

Fifty-five senior college women were given an ego identity status interview, two measures of field-independence (the Embedded Figures Test and figure drawings), and the Gough Femininity Scale. A significant relationship was found between ego identity status and field-independence, as measured by the EFT. Women in those identity statuses defined by occupational, ideological, and sexual commitment (Achievement and Foreclosure) were significantly more field-independent than women in those statuses which were not committed to elements of psychosocial identity (Moratorium and Diffusion). There was a trend toward a significant relationship between ego identity status and traditional femininity. No relationship was found between field-independence and traditional femininity.