The World on Women’s Shoulders: A Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship Between Gender and the Environment

Renate Ford

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The importance of environmental issues has become increasingly apparent in public policy and political discussions. However, little attention has focused on how gender impacts attitudes towards the environment. Using 3 data sets from the General Social Survey, I conducted a quantitative data analysis to determine how gender influences environmental concerns. Two variables, environmental concern, and pro-environmental views were conceptualized to evaluate the impact of gender. My study revealed that women tend to hold stronger pro-environmental views and exhibit greater concern for environmental issues than men, even after accounting for other sociodemographic factors. My research also found that higher levels of pro-environmental views are associated with increased concern for environmental issues, with gender playing a significant role in this relationship. This study adds to environmental sociology and ecological feminist literature, highlighting gender's impact on environmental views. It aligns with previous literature, consistently finding modest gender differences.

Comments

Learning and Living
BLH 362

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