Concern about Toxic Wastes: Three Demographic Predictors

In: Sociological perspectives, Volume 28, Issue 4, p. 463-486

Abstract

Campaigns against toxic waste problems are emerging as a grass-roots social movement in hundreds of American communities. This article examines survey data from two such communities (Acton, Massachusetts, and Williamstown, Vermont), which have recently experienced problems with toxic waste contamination. Multivariate log-linear analyses indicate that concern about contamination problems is highest among younger respondents, among women, and among those who have children under 18. These basic conclusions are found to be robust across different model specifications, different estimation strategies, and across a wide variety of specific issues and measures for toxic-waste concern in three different communities. The findings provide insight into the intensity of opposition to toxic wastes, differences between toxic wastes and many other environmental issues, and the difference in perspective between local citizens' groups and the corporate and government officals with whom they must deal.