On Climate Change and the Gender Divide

By examining 8 years of Gallup poll data, a new study has found that women take global warming far more seriously than men and hold views more likely align with the world's scientific consensus. Since these results held regardless of political ideology or party affiliation, I have an alternate explanation.

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus, right? So of course this climate-gender divide makes sense. Venus is plagued by a runaway greenhouse effect that keeps surface temperatures at a steamy 900 F; Mars, on the other hand, has a climate not so radically different than ours.

Ok, ok, I kid. There are some other possible reasons for this interesting expression of the gender gap, and the study's author—a sociologist from Michigan State University— goes into them.

The most important appears to be "gender socialization"—the old "girls get Barbies and pink clothes, boys get chemistry sets and monster trucks" trope. As The Guardian writes, it's that boys learn to seek and expect control and mastery over their environment; girls learn "attachment, empathy, and care." These feelings may extend to planetary protection and the destructive consequences of climate change. An enhanced sense of empathy seems to me especially important in this regard, since I'm willing to bet that the worst effects of global warming will not be felt by American Gallup poll respondents.

Another reason explained in the study is the uncertain relationship between women and science. Past studies show that a female Albert Einstein would lack the same confidence in her science and math abilities as the real-life male version. Usually I'd say confidence and independent thinking are good things, but not at expense of becoming an unqualified know-it-all. In my own experience, the vast majority of do-it-yourself climate science doubters are men (and certainly the most famous ones are).

A woman, therefore, is likely more willing to trust the overwhelming conclusions of thousands of scientists and decades of research, rather than think she should selectively pour through google search results. This, of course, is not to say all people shouldn't form their own independent conclusions—just that it's important to acknowledge that many vocal contrarians, many who I believe are male, go too far.

Women-oriented groups do frequently engage in environment issues, and, given that climate change will alter food, water, and energy availability around the world, experts expect that rising temperatures will disproportionately affect women.

Maybe it's time, then, that women as an interest group raise their voice louder in this debate?

Photo credit: ~MVI~ via Flickr

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