Looking for a White Male Effect in Generation Z: Race,Gender, and Political Effects on Environmental Concern and Ambivalence |
| |
| Authors: | J Tom Mueller Lauren E Mullenbach |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | The “White male effect” has been presented in past literature as a way to explain the tendency for White males to have lower environmental concern and risk perceptions than female and non-White individuals. Recently, research has proposed the “White male effect” may be a “conservative White male effect,” due to findings that political ideology impacts environmental concern. This study used a sample of young college-educated adults from Generation Z to test whether the conservative White male effect is present for environmental concern and ambivalence toward a proenvironmental worldview in this younger generation. Online surveys were distributed to undergraduate students at a large northeastern university in spring of 2016. A total of 1,940 surveys were returned. Results showed a lack of a unique White male, or conservative White male, effect above and beyond differences explained by gender, Whiteness, and political affiliation. The implications of this effect’s absence are discussed. |
| |
| Keywords: | Ambivalence environmental attitudes and concerns environmental politics gender generation Z masculinity politics race and the environment White male effect |
|
|
