Gender Inequality: Critical Consciousness Scale

Policy efforts to empower women can be influenced by women’s perception of the degree of existing gender inequality, their actual desire for egalitarianism, and what they do to push for change. Critical consciousness is defined as the capacity of oppressed or marginalized people to critically analyze their social and political conditions, endorse societal equality, and take action to change perceived inequities (Freire, 1973). Measuring critical consciousness is important for helping us better interpret women’s preferences. This scale fills a gap by measuring critical consciousness of gender inequality using a method that has been adapted to the Global South. The scale has three components: critical reflection (the degree to which women are aware of the conditions that discriminate them), critical action (what they do to push for change), and critical motivation (their desire for egalitarianism). We recommend the use of this tool in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of development programs aimed at improving women’s empowerment.

Link to: tool content and guidelines, CTO file, and statistical annex

Duration: This tool takes on average 8.79 minutes to be implemented.

Permitted use of the tool: users are free to use the tool with citation “MAGNET (2023). Gender Inequality: Critical Consciousness Scale. http://magnet.ifpri.info/gender-inequality-critical-consciousness-scale/”

Tool sample

Factor 1: Intra-household decision-making

(Full tool includes two more factors: Working and Community/political participation)

Critical reflection

Now I’m going to read you some statements. How much do you agree with the following statements?

• When deciding whether to make major household purchases, female household members’ opinions are taken less seriously than male household members’ opinions.
• Women almost never have the final say regarding how to spend money on major household purchases.

Critical action

In the last year, how often have you done the following actions? Always, Often, Sometimes, Rarely, or Never?

• Expressed your opinion on decisions regarding major household purchases?
• Expressed your opinion on decisions regarding major household purchases even if others in your household disagreed?

Critical motivation

Now I’m going to read you some statements. How much do you agree with the following statements?

• It is important that women’s opinions are heard as much as men’s regarding major household purchases.
• We should live in a world where women feel free to speak up their minds within households.

Response Options:

For critical reflection and critical motivation:

How much do you agree with the following statements?

1. Completely disagree 2. Mostly disagree 3. Neither agree nor disagree 4. Mostly agree 5. Completely agree

For critical action:

In the last year, how often have you…?

1. Always 2. Often 3. Sometimes 4. Rarely 5. Never

Measurement properties

• Geographies Tested: India, Uganda
• Populations included: Female
• Age range: Adults, Adolescent

For details on these testing metrics, visit our scoring methodology page.