Elaborating on Gender Differences in Environmentalism - Statistical Data Included

Journal of Social Issues, Fall, 2000 by Lynnette C. Zelezny, Poh-Pheng Chua, Christina Aldrich

In our view, Studies 1 and 2 advance past studies on gender and environmentalism because we examined a broader spectrum of males and females, across ages and countries, on both environmental attitudes and behaviors, and we found very consistent patterns. Females reported stronger environmental attitudes and behaviors than men across ages and countries. Other interesting findings also emerged. We found that as a single variable, the effect of gender on environmental attitudes and behaviors, was strongest among young people; in addition, the effect of gender on proenvironmental behavior was consistently stronger than on environmental attitudes (see Table 2).

Given that these studies provide new evidence that describes gender differences in environmentalism, a more difficult question remains: How can we empirically explain these differences? Using gender socialization theory, which was discussed earlier in this article, we developed Study 3 to examine the role of socialization on gender differences and environmentalism. We predicted that, compared to males, females would have a stronger "extended other" orientation and a stronger social "ethic of care" to take responsibility for alleviating problems in the world, as theorized by Gilligan (1982) and others.

Study 3: Explaining Gender Differences and Environmentalism

University students (N= 119; 79 females and 40 males) volunteered to participate in this survey on environmental attitudes, gender orientation, socialized other orientation, and social responsibility. The average age of participants was 20.54.

A questionnaire was designed to measure general environmental attitudes, using the NEP Scale (Dunlap & Van Liere, 1978); feminine and masculine orientation, using the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) Femininity and Masculinity scale; the ability to take the role of a conceptualized other, using the CPI Socialization scale; and ethic of care to take responsibility for ameliorating social problems, using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Social Responsibility subscale. In addition, demographic (i.e., gender, age, perceived socioeconomic status, political affiliation) information was assessed. Questionnaires were group administered.

Using t-test analyses, we again found that females (M = 36.89, SD = 4.29) reported significantly more NEP concern for the environment than males (M = 34.33, SD = 5.90), t(l17) = -2.702, p = .008. Post hoc analyses using estimate of omega-squared showed that 5% of the variance in general NEP environmental concern was accounted for by gender. These findings were consistent with the previously cited findings in Studies 1 and 2 (see Table 2).

Hypothesis 1, which predicted gender differences in affinity to take the role of a conceptualized other, was supported. Compared to males (M = 30.14, SD = 6.63), females (M = 33.66, SD = 5.18) were more able to take the role of a conceptualized other as measured by the CPI Socialization scale, t(109) = -3.034, p = .003. Estimate of omega-squared showed that 6.88% of the variance in one's ability to take the role of a conceptualized other was explained by gender.