Men are bad for the planet, a controversial new study has claimed.
Researchers from 13 countries have joined forces on a new paper, titled ‘Men, masculinities, and the planet at the end of (M)Anthropocene.’
According to the experts, men tend to have a greater carbon footprint than women, largely through travel, transportation, and tourism.
Blokes are also less concerned with climate change – and less willing to change their everyday practices to fix it.
In addition, typically ‘manly’ activities negatively impact both the environment and the climate.
This includes things like fishing and hunting, as well as meat consumption.
Professor Jeff Hearn, professor of sociology in Huddersfield’s Department of Social and Psychological Sciences, said: ‘There is now plenty of research that shows clear negative impacts of some men’s behavior on the environment and climate.
‘What is astonishing is how this aspect does not figure in most debate and policy in a more sustainable world.’
Typically ‘manly’ activities negatively impact both the environment and the climate. This includes things like fishing and hunting, as well as meat consumption (stock image)
A recent study found that more often than not, men are reluctant to talk about the role of gender in meat consumption
The review, published in the International Journal for Masculinity Studies, was conducted by 22 researchers from 13 countries, who set out to understand the link between men, masculinities, and the environment.
Their findings can be broken down into six key categories.
1. Men have greater carbon footprints than women
Firstly, the researchers found that men tend to have greater carbon footprints and impacts on the environment than women.
This is largely linked to their increased travel, transportation, tourism, and meat–eating, according to the team.
‘Men consume more meat than women and are leaders of the animal–industrial complex,’ they explain.
‘Meat consumption remains part of hegemonic masculinity across many contexts.’
2. Men care less about climate change
The researchers found that men tend to have greater carbon footprints and impacts on the environment than women (stock image)
Next, the researchers highlight that in general, men tend to care less about climate change – and are less willing to change their ways to fight it.
‘Men tend to have less concern with climate change, less willingness to change everyday practice to ameliorate that, and less ambitions in that direction in public politics,’ they said.
3. Men are less ambitious and less active in environmental politics
Men tend to be less ambitious and less active in environmental politics, and less supportive of political parties that work for environmental justice, according to the researchers.
‘Among vocal and influential masculinities, especially far–right political elites, climate denialism often combines with misogyny,’ they said.
‘Men, particularly elite white eurowestern men, dominate ownership and leadership in extractive and high–impact industries, ranging from industrial agriculture, automobiles, and water to emerging AI technologies, with growing ecological costs.’
4. Manly activities are bad for the environment
According to the researchers, typically manly activities tend to be bad for both the environment and the climate.
They explained: ‘Men tend to be more involved in owning, managing, controlling heavy, chemical, carbon–based, industrialized agriculture, high environmental impact and extractive industries, and of course militarism, with its own devastating environmental effects.’
5. Damaging patterns apply especially to elite men in the global North
While the researchers don’t name and shame any particular men, they do point out that the damaging patterns apply especially to elite men in the global North.
They said: ‘The destructive ecological and social processes are associated with and largely driven by the activities of privileged eurowestern countries, particularly elite white men.’
6. Not all men are bad for the planet
Of course, the findings don’t apply to all men, with many playing their part to fight climate change.
The researchers added: ‘Some men are working urgently and energetically to change these tendencies.’
