揭开性别谜团:对陕西“失踪女童”的实证解释

Uncovering the Gender Mystery:An Empirical Analysis of “Missing Girls” in Shaanxi

2000年中国人口普查表明,全国男女出生人口性别比是117∶100,其中,陕西省的这一比例是123∶100。无论是全国还是陕西的男女出生比例均比同期全球平均男女比例103∶107高出很多。这一现象引起很多国内外学者和媒体的关注,中国的"失踪女童"在哪里?人口学家就此做出了三种解释:选择性堕胎;遗弃女婴或者听任女婴死亡;以及不报告、不登记出生女童。陕西省县、村的人口数据支持第三种解释,不报告、不登记现象有助于澄清对男女性别不平衡的模糊认识。未登记女童处于管理的真空地带,是传统陋习的受害者。假如未登记女童现象对于扭曲的性别比有重要影响的话,那么,和谐社会建设的下一步就是要承认这些女童和年轻妇女的存在并给予其合法地位。

According to the fifth national census, between male and female was 117：100 in China and both Shaanxi province and across the country is year of 2000, the sex ratio at birth （SRB） 123：100 in Shaanxi province. The SRB in significantly higher than the global average SRB, which is about 103 ： 107. This phenomenon has drawn much attention from both the Chinese and foreign academy as well as the media： where are those ＂ missing girls ＂？ Demographers have provided three explanations ： sex selective abortion, infanticide and none or registration. The demographic statistics from Shaanxi on the county and village level support explanation. Unregistered female children contribute to clarify the ambiguity of delayed the third gender imbalance. These girls are at a status of vacuum in terms of management, and are victims of traditional bad customs. If the phenomenon of ＂unregistered girls＂ has a significant impact on the distorted gender proportions, then the next step to build a harmonious society is to recognize the existence of these girls and young women and endow them with legal status