Male-biased Sex Ratios and Masculinity Norms: Evidence from Australia's Colonial Past

Ralph De Haas, Victoria Baranov and Pauline Grosjean

No 14493, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

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 interpret these results as manifestations of masculinity norms that emerged due to intense local male-male competition. Once established, masculinity norms persisted over time through family socialization as well as peer socialization in schools.time through family socialization as well as peer socialization in schools.

Keywords: Masculinity; Identity; Sex ratio; Natural experiment; Cultural persistence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I31 J12 J16 N37 O10 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gro and nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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