Men. Male-biased sex ratios and masculinity norms: evidence from Australia's colonial past.

ABSTRACT: We document the historical roots and contemporary consequences of masculinity norms-beliefs about the proper conduct of men. We exploit a natural experiment in which convict transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries created a variegated spatial pattern of sex ratios across Australia. We show that in areas with heavily male-biased convict populations, relatively more men volunteered for World War I about a century later. Even at present these areas remain characterized by more violence, higher rates of male suicide and other forms of preventable male mortality, and more male-stereotypical occupational segregation. Moreover, in these historically male-biased areas, more Australians recently voted against same-sex marriage and boys-but not girls-are more likely to be bullied in school. We

SUBMITTER: Baranov V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10067017 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature