Differences by Sex in Support for Nuclear Power

One of the most consistent findings reported in the public opinion literature is that women are more opposed to nuclear power than men. This research uses data from two widely cited Harris surveys on nuclear power which were conducted in 1975 and 1976 to test a number of hypotheses based on competing explanations for the sex difference. The results support the position that it is a greater concern about safety which explains women's lesser support for nuclear power. Compared with men, women are found to believe that nuclear plants are less safe and to evaluate a number of problems of nuclear power as more serious, particularly those involving danger to health and human life. These differences are found to account for the sex difference in support for nuclear power both in general and in the respondents' local communities.