As noted in your textbook, research involving participants in over 25 countries indicates that adults tend to rate certain characteristics as “masculine” or “feminine.”
Another area of research on gender is the study of androgyny. Androgynous individuals have a balance of both masculine and feminine characteristics. They also demonstrate sex-role flexibility and adaptability. Studies show that androgyny predicts favorable mental health (e.g., Prakash, Kotwal, Ryali, Srivasta, Bhat, & Shashikumar, 2010).