Gender differences in environmentalism among students at a Southern university: The impact of gender role attitudes and university experience

ABSTRACT

This study examines the impact of gender, gender role attitudes, and university experience on environmental values. Using a sample of 609 undergraduate students at a university in the southern United States, nested ordinary least squares regression models examine how gender affects the environmental values of students. Women report significantly higher levels of environmentalism, with the difference mediated by gender role liberalism. Gender role liberalism has a mediating influence on the gender gap in environmental values. The impact of the university experience on environmentalism depends upon the respondent’s gender: progression through university has a positive impact on environmental values for men, but not for women. The results reveal the importance of attitudinal factors and educational experiences for shaping environmental values. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender
• environmentalism
• environmental values
• gender role attitudes
• university experience
• college students