Toward Environmental Justice: A Gendered Analysis of Environmental Pollution in Michigan (Rural)

• In Event: Advances in Rural Criminology II

Abstract

Environmental pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly those near industrial sites. While the racial and economic dimensions of environmental justice have been extensively studied, the gendered impacts remain underexplored. This research examines how the distribution of Superfund sites, a key indicator of environmental pollution, correlates with gendered demographic factors across all 83 counties in Michigan. Using Intersectionality Theory, we hypothesize that states with higher percentages of female-headed households and racial minorities experience disproportionate environmental burdens. The study employs quantitative methods, analyzing secondary data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Census Bureau, and American Community Survey (ACS). Regression analysis is used to evaluate how race, gender, and socio-economic status intersect in shaping exposure to environmental hazards. Preliminary findings suggests that environmental pollution is not only a racial and economic issue but also a gendered one, as women; especially in marginalized communities shoulder greater caregiving and economic burdens. This research contributes to sociological knowledge by integrating a gender perspective into environmental justice research and offering policy recommendations to mitigate systemic inequities. By advancing a nuanced understanding of environmental injustice, this research underscores the importance of intersectional approaches in environmental policy. It calls for a reconceptualization of environmental vulnerability that fully accounts for gendered dimensions, fostering more effective and inclusive interventions to promote environmental equity and justice.

Author

• Ojonimi Salihu, Western Michigan University