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Relationships between the human sex ratio and the woman’s microenvironment

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Abstract

Independent samples of women were surveyed to test Trivers and Willard’s hypothesis that the mother’s condition and her ability to invest in her offspring affect the (secondary) sex ratio of her offspring. Patterns of sex ratios (number of males per 100 females) were analyzed in conjunction with four attributes of a mother’s microenvironment: level of health in her community, family structure, relative access to resources, and her birthing history. The results inferentially support the hypothesis that the microenvironment of the woman would act to bias the sex ratio of her offspring. These specific data lend support to Trivers and Willard’s general hypothesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Service Division, El Paso Community College, 79998, El Paso, TX

    Wade C. Mackey

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  1. Wade C. Mackey
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Additional information

This project was supported, in part, by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation and their generous support is very much appreciated. Appreciation is also extended to Linda Mealey, who generously allowed access to her raw data.

Wade C. Mackey earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Virginia. Previous publications includeFathering Behaviors (Plenum, 1985).

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Mackey, W.C. Relationships between the human sex ratio and the woman’s microenvironment. Human Nature 4, 175–198 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734115

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