| Abstract: |
Perceptions are critical to making decisions about our environment,
particularly contaminated sites. Gender differences in recreational
use, attitudes toward environmental problems, and perceptions of land
use for the Savannah River Site (Department of Energy) were examined
in people living near the Site. Bird watching, photography and fishing
were the most common activities. Men engaged in more hunting, fishing,
hiking and camping, and women photographed more than men. There were
significant gender differences in attitudes toward future land use,
with women showing lower scores than men for hiking, camping, fishing,
hunting, nuclear production, factories, building houses, and storage
of nuclear waste. Maintaining Savannah River Site as a National
Environmental Research Park was the highest priority for both genders,
while storing nuclear wastes and building homes ranked lowest for
both. Planners should consider recreational use as an important future
land use of this Department of Energy site, taking into account gender
differences. |