Gender, race, and perceived risk: The 'white male' effect

TLDR

Risks are judged lower by men and by white people, with prior research showing that 30 % of white males rate risks extremely low, suggesting sociopolitical rather than biological explanations. The study presents new national survey data and recommends further investigation of sociopolitical factors to clarify gender and racial differences in risk judgments. The authors used a recent national survey of U.S. respondents to collect data on risk judgments.

Abstract

Risks tend to be judged lower by men than by women and by white people than by people of colour. Prior research by Flynn, Slovic and Mertz [Risk Analysis, 14, pp. 1101-1108] found that these race and gender differences in risk perception in the United States were primarily due to 30% of the white male population who judge risks to be extremely low. The specificity of this finding suggests an explanation in terms of sociopolitical factors rather than biological factors. The study reported here presents new data from a recent national survey conducted in the United States. Although white males again stood apart with respect to their judgements of risk and their attitudes concerning worldviews, trust, and risk-related stigma, the results showed that the distinction between white males and others is more complex than originally thought. Further investigation of sociopolitical factors in risk judgements is recommended to clarify gender and racial differences.