ABSTRACT
More than a decade has passed since the original research by Fischhoff, Lichtenstein and Slovic on perception of technological risks and benefits (Fischhoff et al, 1978; Lichtenstein et al, 1978). Critiques are now emerging leading to an overall reappraisal of the psychometric paradigm in particular (Renn and Swaton, 1984; Gardner and Gould, 1989; Hansson, 1989) and risk perception research in general (Douglas and Wildavsky, 1982; Johnson and Covello, 1987; Kasperson et al, 1988). While there is some work on cross-cultural comparisons of risk perceptions (Vlek and Stallen, 1981; Englander et al, 1986; Teigen et al, 1988; Bastide et al, 1989; Keown, 1989; Kleinhesselink and Rosa, 1989), research on social distinctions (race, ethnicity, gender) is virtually non-existent. Yet race, ethnicity and gender may be crucial in understanding the social acceptability of risk at both the local and national levels. In particular, the issues of social equity and the burdens of technological risk and hazards are now being raised (UCC, 1987; Bullard, 1990).
