Examining Gender Differences in Environmental Concern Across Four Levels of the Swedish Polity

Abstract

While numerous studies find modest, consistent gender differences in environmental concern with-in the general publics of North American and European countries, such a pattern has not been studied much among elected officials. The results from the few studies of elected officials are in-consistent. We test if women report stronger environmental concern than men across four levels of the Swedish polity, utilizing three datasets: a representative sample of the general public, a survey of all representatives in municipal-level and county-level councils, and a survey of the members of the Swedish Parliament. Results from our multivariate ordered logistic regression models reveal a consistent pattern across the lower three levels. Women report greater environmental concern than men in the general public, in municipal councils, and in regionally elected assemblies. In the Swedish Parliament, we find no significant gender difference on environmental concern, as the effect of gender is largely explained by political orientation.