Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Gender effect on awareness and attitude toward genetically modified foods and medicine

Author(s):

Latifah Amin *, Zaharah Hassan, Maznah Ibrahim, Rozita Ibrahim

Recieved Date: 2013-11-16, Accepted Date: 2014-01-30

Abstract:

Gender has been strongly associated with risk judgement and attitude. Many studies have found that men tend to judge risks as smaller and less problematic than women. The purpose of this paper was to compare the awareness and attitude of the Malaysian public towards three applications of biotechnology; i.e. genetically modified (GM) soybean, GM palm oil and GM insulin; across gender. A survey was carried out on 1017 respondents from various interest groups in the Klang Valley region. Results of the study showed that females were found to have significantly higher awareness level and familiarity with GM soybean but not with GM palm oil and GM insulin. The females were also more trusting towards the scientists, government and industries but there were no differences in biotechnology knowledge, engagement levels, general promise, general concern, impact of technology and religiosity. Even though the males professed to have lower familiarity with GM soybean, they tend to perceive less risks, more benefits and more supportive of GM soybean. There was no significant difference in the familiarity of GM insulin, and both genders were more in agreement in their opinion of GM palm oil, the moral aspects of all three surveyed biotechnology applications, risk acceptance of GM soybean and encouragement of GM insulin.

Keywords:

Public attitude, awareness, risk perception, gender, modern biotechnology

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2014
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Category: Food and Health
Pages: 2-7

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