Discrimination, vulnerability, and justice in the face of risk

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Date

2004

Authors

Satterfield, Terre
Mertz, C. K.
Slovic, Paul

Journal Title

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Abstract

Recent research finds that perceived risk is closely associated with race and gender. In surveys of the American public a subset of white males stand out for their uniformly low perceptions of environmental health risks, while most nonwhite and non male respondents reveal higher perceived risk. Such findings have been attributed to the advantageous position of white males in American social life. This paper explores the linked possibility that this demographic pattern is driven not simply by the social advantages or disadvantages embodied in race or gender, but by the subjective experience of vulnerability and by sociopolitical evaluations pertaining to environmental (in)justice. Indices of environmental (injustice and social vulnerability were developed as part of a U. S. National Risk Survey (n = 1,192) in order to examine their effect on perceived risk. It was found that those who regarded themselves as vulnerable and supported belief statements consistent with the environmental justice thesis offered higher risk ratings across a range of hazards. Multivariate analysis indicates that our measures of vulnerability and environmental [in]justice predict perceived risk but do not account for all of the effects of race and gender. The paper closes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for further work on vulnerability and risk, risk communication, and risk-management practices generally.

Description

40 pages

Keywords

Perceived risk, Race, Gender, Vulnerability, Environmental justice, Communication

Citation

Satterfield, T. A., Mertz, C. K., & Slovic, P. (2004). Discrimination, vulnerability, and justice in the face of risk. Risk Analysis, 24, 115-129.