Gender Differences in Fear of Terrorism

Abstract

Researchers have long been curious about the mismatch between women's fear of crime and their objective risk of victimization. The present research, which examines fear of terrorism, provides a unique opportunity to explore gender differences in reactions to a specific type of violent victimization, terrorism. The article analyzes data collected from a telephone survey of 532 inhabitants from New York and Washington on the topic of reactions to terrorism-related information. Analysis of these data finds that women are more fearful, engage in more avoidance behaviors, and are more likely to seek information in response to terrorism-related information. Moreover, women differ from men in predictors of their terrorism fears as well as engagement in terrorismrelated avoidance and information-seeking behaviors. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.

Predictors of Fear and Risk of Terrorism in a Rural State

“…Since September 11, 2001, the media coverage of terrorist threats and terrorist groups has increased dramatically and researchers have studied the impact of media exposure on terrorism fear and perceptions (Nellis 2007;Nellis 2009;Lane, Meeker, & Nellis 2009). DiMaggio (2008 claims that citizen fears are often driven by media framing of issues; when the media has a vested interest in an issue (e.g., terrorism), the reporting of that issue often becomes slanted so that the factual information is reported through a lens of fear and anxiety.…”

“…DiMaggio (2008 claims that citizen fears are often driven by media framing of issues; when the media has a vested interest in an issue (e.g., terrorism), the reporting of that issue often becomes slanted so that the factual information is reported through a lens of fear and anxiety. Thus, the constant media attention to terrorism, its causes, and its consequences may undermine the larger social order by impacting psychological processes of citizens in the countries where terrorism is reported as a threat (Fisher, Greitemeyer, Kastenmuller, Frey, & Oßwald 2007) and may inflate the public's fear of terrorism and perceived risk of future attacks (Nellis 2009). …”

Perceptually Contemporaneous Offenses: Explaining the Sex-Fear Paradox and the Crimes that Drive Male and Female Fear

“…The first hypothesis is that women would have higher fear levels than men, controlling for relevant demographic and perceptual variables. Much like the overwhelming majority of past studies (Ferraro 1995;Fisher and Sloan 2003;Madriz 1997;May et al 2010;Nellis 2009;Schafer et al 2006;Warr 1984;Wilcox, Jordan, and Pritchard 2006), women had significantly higher levels of crime fear for all crimes. Additionally, women generally perceived their risk of crime significantly higher than men, with the exception of risk of car theft.…”

“…It is clear from research literature that one of the strongest predictors of fear of crime is sex (Ferraro 1995;Fisher and Sloan 2003;Madriz 1997;May, Rader, and Goodrum 2010;Schafer, Huebner, and Bynum 2006;Nellis 2009;Warr 1984;Wilcox, Jordan, and Pritchard 2006), with women consistently expressing higher levels of fear of crime than men. Despite the consistency of this finding, a close examination of National Crime Victimization Rates for 2008-2011 indicates that victimization rates for men were generally higher than women, with the exception of women's victimization for rape and other sexual assaults (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2012).…”

“…Despite the consistency of this finding, a close examination of National Crime Victimization Rates for 2008-2011 indicates that victimization rates for men were generally higher than women, with the exception of women's victimization for rape and other sexual assaults (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2012). This situation has sometimes been described as ''the sex-fear paradox or the victimization paradox'' (Britto, VanSlyke, and Francis 2011: 3-4;Ferraro 1995;Fisher and Sloan 2003;Madriz 1997;May et al 2010;Nellis 2009;Schafer et al 2006;Warr 1984).…”