Women's Decision-Making And Factors Affecting Their Choice Of ...

that each form of social life has its own typical risk portfolio. Common values
lead to common fears and, by implication, to a common agreement not to fear
other things.
In the United States and other industrialised societies, the issue of
increasing concern with cancer risk from industrial pollution is seen as being
partly the result of the rise in prominence of environmental groups. Such groups
function as contemporary sects with a secular rather than a religious orientation
(Cohen 1982). They use the risks as a means for holding the groups together, and
for attacking the establishment groups that they oppose. Using the example of the
proposed study, since hospital birth is now the norm, those who choose to deliver
at home might be seen to be attacking modern obstetrics, and using the iatrogenic
risks of the hospital as a means of group solidarity. For example, in one study,
obstetricians referred to women who chose to have their babies outside the
hospital as feminist-oriented or anti-establishment (Cohen 1982).
Another factor thought to play a role in risk perception is the way
information is presented. For example, in a case study about a community whose
water supply was contaminated by a carcinogen, trichloroethylene (TCE)
(Fitchen, Heath, and Fessenden-Raden 1987), the local health officials made a
broadcast through the local radio and printed a warning in the local newspapers
that water should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it. The local officials'
statement was that they were acting in a precautionary manner to protect the
people, and hoped that the problem would soon be resolved and the nuisance of
boiling water ended. Residents never actively sought information about the health
risks, and never demonstrated any anger, accusation, or serious worry. At public
meetings, questions and comments by the public indicated that the community's
interest was not on the health risk itself, but the publicity surrounding it. For
37