Resource Type: Social Science Research

Playing up the masculine character of the climate movement may attract more supporters. Describing the climate moThis study investigated some factors that might predict interest in engaging in climate activism. The study—using surveys—found that people who perceive that the pro-climate “issue public” (i.e., people who care most about climate change) has “positive masculine” traits are MORE likely to say they’re interested in engaging in climate activism. In contrast, the study found that people were NOT more likely to be interested in climate activism when they thought that the pro-climate issue public has “positive feminine” traits. Perceiving “negative masculine” traits associated with pro-climate issue publics was correlated with people being more interested in ANTI-climate activism.             

Senior Congressional aides consistently do not accurately identify their district or state’s policy preferences on issues (ranging from regulating carbon emissions to gun control to health care) and often overestimate their constituents’ conservatism. Across all five issues, this research finds that staffers do not accurately identify their district or state’s preferences and often overestimate their constituents’ conservatism. For example, 78% of staffers underestimated constituent support for carbon limits in their districts and states.