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6 - Masculinity and Environment

from Part II - Embodied Environmental Sociology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2020

By
Kathryn Gregory Anderson
Edited by
Katharine Legun ,
Julie C. Keller ,
Michael Carolan  and
Michael M. Bell
Katharine Legun
Affiliation:
Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Julie C. Keller
Affiliation:
University of Rhode Island
Michael Carolan
Affiliation:
Colorado State University
Michael M. Bell
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin, Madison
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Summary

This chapter explores how, in cultures where male power is hegemonic, claiming and mobilizing a masculine identity and avoiding the feminine can become problematic for environmental sustainability. I begin with basic tenets of critical gender theory and masculinities studies that help explain the relationship between masculinity and environment. I then examine recent research suggesting that anti-environmental attitudes and behavior as well as indifference or skepticism about environmental science and risk can be explained in part as performances enacted to signal a masculine identity. After discussing these direct anti-environmental masculine performances, I explore how enacting core masculine-coded performances not directly related to the environment can also obstruct environmental protection. Privileging the rational, technical, and competitive, and avoiding feminine-coded emotion and cooperation can result in excluding social justice arguments for environmental action and favoring technological and business-friendly solutions that may be untested and dangerous – such as climate geoengineering – over vital regulations and multi-lateral cooperation.

Keywords

masculinitygender identity maintenanceenvironmental sustainabilityenvironmental attitudes and concernswhite male effect
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Environmental Sociology , pp. 103 - 116
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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