The white (male) effect and risk perception: can equality make a difference?

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Sociology
• Risk Perception Studies

Background:

• The
• white male effect
• (WME) posits lower risk perception among white males, often attributed to societal privilege.
• Explanations link WME to socio-economic status, control, and worldviews, suggesting inequality increases risk perception in women and minorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of the WME in Sweden, a country with high gender equality.
• To compare risk perception patterns in Sweden with those observed in less gender-equal societies like the United States.
• To explore the role of societal factors, beyond gender, in shaping risk perception.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a national survey data from Sweden (n=1,472) conducted in winter 2005.
• Analyzed risk perception differences across demographic groups, focusing on gender and ethnic background.
• Compared findings with existing research on the WME, particularly studies from the United States.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in risk perception was found between men and women in Sweden.
• Individuals with foreign backgrounds reported higher risk perception compared to native-born individuals.
• The WME was not observed in the Swedish context, contrary to findings in less gender-equal nations.

Conclusions:

• Relative gender equality in Sweden appears to negate the WME.
• Ethnicity, specifically foreign background, acts as a marker for societal inequality and discrimination, influencing risk perception.
• The concept of a
• societal inequality effect
• is proposed as a more accurate descriptor than the WME for understanding group differences in risk perception.