Measuring gender diversity in public surveys: Implications for environmental values and sustainable choices in Europe

This study addresses the knowledge gap about gender, environmental values and sustainable choices due to current research in which (potentially) gender-diverse persons, if they are recognized at all, are dropped from the analysis of public surveys. Its novelty is that we cumulated the numbers of (potentially) gender-diverse persons in samples from general populations (Eurobarometer surveys) and focused the analysis on relationships between expanded gender options, ideological values, and political choices of environment and climate (henceforth green) issues over others. (Potentially) gender-diverse persons were primarily identified in countries where people trusted each other and in online over face-to-face interviews. In 13 high-trust countries (N = 48,125), 131 participants self-identified as (potentially) gender diverse. In these countries, (potentially) gender-diverse persons showed different value preferences (favoring Human rights, Respect for the planet, Equality, and Solidarity) and more left-leaning political preferences than binary genders. Also, they scored higher on green issue salience; a stepwise multilevel regression analysis revealed that this difference decreased after inclusion of the values (Respect for the planet, Solidarity, Human rights) and left-right self-placement, controlling for individual- and country-level covariates. Whereas the binary genders exhibited—on average—small differences between women and men, the expanded gender options improved analytical outcomes, indicating that (potentially) gender-diverse persons may be more receptive to ideals of a just world and a healthy planet. Hence, recognizing and including gender-diverse persons in cross-national surveys not only enhances inclusivity but also yields distinct patterns in policy-relevant preferences—offering vital insights for research and policy-making in sustainability transitions.