ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that economists' aversion to discussing fear—especially fear as experienced by men—has serious consequences. Contemporary scholars outside of economics also note that emotions, including fear, play an important role in risk-related perceptions and choices. The association of fear with femininity may help explain why emotions of fear, though so important in real-world phenomena such as financial panics, have remained under-regarded. To the extent that fear is deeply and unconsciously associated with the "feminine" realm, its presence and significance in realms such as masculine-associated markets and the masculine-associated economics discipline will tend to be automatically denied. But the biggest danger may be the way in which, by suppressing legitimate fear, it therefore encourages recklessness on the part of those who lead the way in the "masculine" realms of economics and environmental policymaking.
