ABSTRACT
This chapter explains relevant sociological literature on gender differences in environmental concern. The greatest gender differences are generally seen in studies dealing with the last type of indicator – worry about specific environmental problems, especially those local problems with clear health risks to family and community. The prevailing sociological explanations for gender differences in environmental concern are derived from either gender socialization theory or perspectives emphasizing the social roles that men and women differentially perform in society. Sociological research on how men and women perceive and respond to environmental problems began to develop in the 1990s. Many scholars have invoked gender socialization theory to explain why women are more concerned than are men about local environmental problems that pose significant health and safety risks for community members. Gender socialization theorists emphasize the different values and social expectations that are internalized by boys and girls through socialization into their society's dominant culture.
