PSYCHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF MANIFESTATION OF ANDROGYNY BY FEMALE TEACHERS

The paper investigates the origin of the concept of androgyny, surveys its interpretation in philosophical and psychological studies. In the research we display the correlation of femininity, masculinity with the level of anxiety, conflictness, mental rigidity and lability, creativity of female teachers. Experimentally was verified the prevalence of androgyny, masculinity or femininity in women depending on their age, marital status, having children or childlessness, place of residence. It was proved that the masculinity index is higher among divorced or widowed women as they assume men's roles and responsibilities. Among both married and unmarried women there are rather feminine ones, although the prevalent personality type is the androgynous. The research determined that the indices of androgyny and femininity are practically constant in all age life periods of a female teacher, though the masculinity rate increases after 51 years among the teachers of rural schools and university professors. It was confirmed that the manifestations of femininity are most essential among female teachers of urban schools aged 35–50. The index of masculinity is the lowest one in almost all age groups and the level of androgyny dominates. The results of the empirical study of university female teaching staff correlate with the indices of teachers in rural schools. A more detailed analysis revealed that masculine traits are inherent to rural women. The analysis of scientific psychological studies and the experimental research show that androgynous personality type of a woman has a significant potential for the creation of the life space in all aspects: personal, professional and family. The creative potential of a person determines her ability to vital-creative activity.