Gender, Scientific Knowledge, and Attitudes toward the Environment: A Cross-National Analysis

Abstract

As of yet, relatively little information exists regarding gender differences in attitudes toward the environment. This is particularly the case when countries besides the United States and Canada are considered. Further-more, the information available has proved to be inclusive, with some studies indicating that men are more concerned about the environment than women, others indicating that women are more concerned but only in relation to a narrow range of risk-related environmental issues, and still others finding no significant differences. Using nationally representative survey data from the United States, Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, West Germany, East Germany, and Japan, this study investigates gender differences in levels of scientific knowledge and its consequences for attitudes toward general environmental issues. The results suggest that although men and women do differ in terms of their knowledge of scientific matters, this has little or no effect on their attitudes toward the environment. Across a majority of nations, women are not more concerned about environmental issues than men and this lack of relationship holds whether or not differences in levels of scientific knowledge are controlled for in the analysis.

Energy-Efficient Lighting: Consumers’ Perceptions and Behaviors

“…Respondents earning $50,000 to $99,999 and females rated significantly higher on their habitual energy-saving behaviors than did male respondents and those earning less than $49,999 and more than $100,000. Regarding gender effect on habitual energy-saving behaviors, the result corresponds to the previous studies, indicating that women are more environmentally significant than men (Hayes, 2001;Zelezny et al, 2000). According to some earlier research, people with higher income are expected to exhibit higher environmental attitudes and behaviors (Gatersleben, Steg, & Vlek, 2002;Inglehart, 1995).…”

Gender, masculinity and femininity as ecocentrism and anthropocentrism predictors / Género, masculinidad y feminidad como predictores del ecocentrismo y el antropocentrismo

“…While the gender differences obtained with respect to anthropocentrism are consistent with much of the empirical literature (e.g., Arcury & Christianson, 1993;Blaikie, 1992;Mainieri, Barnett, Valdero, Unipan, & Oskamp, 1997;Wiidegren, 1998;Zelezny et al, 2000), the absence of gender differences in ecocentrism presents a contradiction. However, as stated in the first section of this study, evidence supporting greater environmental concern among women versus men has not been obtained in all studies (e.g., Arcury & Christianson, 1993;Hayes, 2001;Klineberg, McKeever, & Rothenbach, 1998;MacDonald & Hara, 1994). It is possible that the results obtained have been influenced by the age and education level of the participants of our study, as there is empirical evidence that demonstrates that younger individuals with a higher level of education are more likely to hold pro-environmental beliefs and attitudes (e.g., Buttel, 1987;Dunlap & Van Liere, 1978;Franzen & Meyer, 2010;Klineberg et al, 1998).…”

“…However, not all studies support these differences, as a number of studies demonstrate that either there are no gender differences in environmental concern (e.g., Alibeli & White, 2011;Arcury & Masculinity, Femininity and Attitudes / Masculinidad, Feminidad y Actitudes 285 Christianson, 1993; Hayes, 2001;Olofsson & Ohman, 2006;Wiidegren, 1998) or that men present greater concern (e.g., Arbuthnot, 1977;Arcury, Scollay, & Johnson, 1987;MacDonald & Hara, 1994;McEvoy, 1972). Therefore, the results obtained up until now have been somewhat contradictory and inconclusive (Arcury et al, 1987;Hayes, 2001;Hines, Hungerford, & Tomera, 1987;Mohai, 1992;Van Liere & Dunlap, 1980). One possible explanation for this disparity of results comes from one of the theoretical frameworks that attempt to explain the gender differences in proenvironmental attitudes and behaviours, namely the Theory of Gender-Role Socialization (Bem, 1974;Eagly, 1987;Unger & Crawford, 1996).…”

Assessing the Environmental Attitude among Pupil Teachers in Relation To Responsible Environmental Behavior: A Leap towards Sustainable Development

“…Numerous Projects demonstrate positive relationship between proenvironmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior (Abdul Wahab, 2008;Bodur & Sarigollu, 2005;Fraj and Martinez, 2006;Meinhold and Mulkas, 2005;Cottrell, 2003;Gatersleben et al, 2002;Kaiser et al, 1999;Vogel, 1996;Lyons and Breakwell, 1994;Oskamp, 1991). Studies concerning demographic variables (gender, age, ethnic groups, educational background) in relation to environmental attitude, proenvironmental behavior, awareness and knowledge have also been carried out by many researchers (Milfont et al, 2006;Meinhold and Malkus, 2005;Eisler et al, 2003;Haikonen and Kiljunen, 2003;Hayes, 2001;Tikka et al, 2000;Uyeki and Holland, 2000;Zelezny et al, 2000;Lyons and Breakwell, 1994).…”