Gender Differences in Environmental Concern: Reevaluating Gender Socialization

We examine the direct effects of social roles and value orientations believed to be derived from gender socialization on environmental concern. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and Wave 2 of the Baylor Religion Survey (BRS), we find that among U.S. adults, value orientations about social roles, but not social roles themselves, influence environmental concern. Gender traditionalism is found to have a significant negative relationship with environmental concern for women, and no effect for men. Conversely, an ethic of care is found positively related to environmental concern for both men and women. The results suggest that observed differences between genders in environmental concern are related to gender socialization; however (1) different forms of socialized value orientations influence environmentalism in opposing ways, and (2) the effects of an ethic of care may be gender neutral. We conclude with a discussion of potential directions for future research on gender differences in environmental concern.