Sex allocation theory predicts the optimal investment to male and female offspring.However,a biased sex ratio requires explanations as to why the deviation occurs.Rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)is the most widely distr...Sex allocation theory predicts the optimal investment to male and female offspring.However,a biased sex ratio requires explanations as to why the deviation occurs.Rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)is the most widely distributed nonhuman primate species and the Taihangshan macaque(Macaca mulatta tcheliensis)occupies the northern limit of all rhesus macaque natural populations worldwide.We observed one macaque troop(Wangwu-1[WW-1])inhabiting Taihangshan Macaque National Nature Reserve and recorded all birth events and the sex of newborn macaques from 2004 to 2013.Our aim was to apply the Trivers–Willard hypothesis to this free-ranging rhesus macaque troop,and to understand the relationship between climatic parameters(precipitation and temperature)and birth sex ratio.We found that the total newborn macaques showed a female-biased sex ratio at birth in the WW-1 troop,but there were no significant biased birth sex ratios in all matriarchs and in high-ranking and middle-ranking matrilineal units.However,the low-ranking macaque matrilineal unit was significantly female-biased.Moreover,we found that the annual precipitation of the previous year was positively associated with the birth sex ratio,and there was an interactive effect of troop size and current winter temperature on the birth sex ratio.The underlying mechanisms for the effects of social and climatic factors on birth sex ratio could be complex,and we discuss several plausible explanations.展开更多
In 2020,China’s sex ratio at birth(SRB)stood at 111.3,still exhibiting a notable bias.Son preference ranks as the most essential and fundamental reason for the skewed SRB.This study,using a mixed-methods approach,see...In 2020,China’s sex ratio at birth(SRB)stood at 111.3,still exhibiting a notable bias.Son preference ranks as the most essential and fundamental reason for the skewed SRB.This study,using a mixed-methods approach,seeks to address what the temporal changes and regional differences in SRB and the gender preferences are in China,whether and why son preference persists,how people practice such preferences and how they relate to the persistently high SRB in the Chinese con-text.Analysis of data from five national sample surveys finds that son preference is waning and daughter preference is gaining momentum,consistent with significant downward trends in SRB.The study also reveals that value shifts and intergenera-tional relations have a strong influence on gender preferences and their translation into reproductive behavior.Additionally,this study highlights the challenges that are hindering the decline in son preference,suggesting that more efforts are needed to empower women and to change social norms.展开更多
Women’s emancipation is an important part of the people’s liberation movement led by the Communist Party of China.Improving women’s political status is the basic condition for improving their social welfare rights ...Women’s emancipation is an important part of the people’s liberation movement led by the Communist Party of China.Improving women’s political status is the basic condition for improving their social welfare rights and interests.Based on the data from county gazetteers covering more than 1,700 counties,the censuses of 1990 and 2000,and other representative surveys,we conducted an empirical study on the long-term effect of women’s political status on the sex ratio at birth.Our research found that the higher the ratio of female Communist Party members in each county in 1950,the more normal was the sex ratio at birth in the following 50 years.The improved political status of women aged 16-20 significantly raised the proportion of girls among surviving children,especially in the era of family planning.This demographic study provides empirical historical evidence for the first time on one aspect of the long-term social impact of the mission of the Chinese people’s liberation.展开更多
The sex ratio at birth(SRB)in China began to rise rapidly in the 1980s and declined after 2009.The ratio has maintained a downward trend since 2009,but is still higher than the normal level.The government of China has...The sex ratio at birth(SRB)in China began to rise rapidly in the 1980s and declined after 2009.The ratio has maintained a downward trend since 2009,but is still higher than the normal level.The government of China has committed to redress the distortions in SRB and has initiated multiple actions to accomplish that end.Against a background of economic development,accelerating modernization and the empowerment of women,China has strengthened governance and made significant progress in balancing the sex ratio at birth.This paper examines the trend for SRB in China,summarizes the practices that address gender imbalance at birth,and analyzes the challenges ahead.展开更多
基金We acknowledge the editors for their effort in communication between us and reviewers.Thanks to the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticisms which help to improve the early version of our manuscript greatly.We are grateful to Wang Haofeng,Wang Yonghong,Hou Jiafu,Kong Maocai,and Hou Xiquan for assistance in the field.We appreciate Professor Paul A.Garber(University of Illinois,USA)for his editing and suggestion on our manuscript.We especially thank the Jiyuan Administration of Taihangshan Macaque National Nature Reserve for permission and logistic support to this research.This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30970378 and 31170503).The authors declare no conflict of interest.
文摘Sex allocation theory predicts the optimal investment to male and female offspring.However,a biased sex ratio requires explanations as to why the deviation occurs.Rhesus macaque(Macaca mulatta)is the most widely distributed nonhuman primate species and the Taihangshan macaque(Macaca mulatta tcheliensis)occupies the northern limit of all rhesus macaque natural populations worldwide.We observed one macaque troop(Wangwu-1[WW-1])inhabiting Taihangshan Macaque National Nature Reserve and recorded all birth events and the sex of newborn macaques from 2004 to 2013.Our aim was to apply the Trivers–Willard hypothesis to this free-ranging rhesus macaque troop,and to understand the relationship between climatic parameters(precipitation and temperature)and birth sex ratio.We found that the total newborn macaques showed a female-biased sex ratio at birth in the WW-1 troop,but there were no significant biased birth sex ratios in all matriarchs and in high-ranking and middle-ranking matrilineal units.However,the low-ranking macaque matrilineal unit was significantly female-biased.Moreover,we found that the annual precipitation of the previous year was positively associated with the birth sex ratio,and there was an interactive effect of troop size and current winter temperature on the birth sex ratio.The underlying mechanisms for the effects of social and climatic factors on birth sex ratio could be complex,and we discuss several plausible explanations.
文摘In 2020,China’s sex ratio at birth(SRB)stood at 111.3,still exhibiting a notable bias.Son preference ranks as the most essential and fundamental reason for the skewed SRB.This study,using a mixed-methods approach,seeks to address what the temporal changes and regional differences in SRB and the gender preferences are in China,whether and why son preference persists,how people practice such preferences and how they relate to the persistently high SRB in the Chinese con-text.Analysis of data from five national sample surveys finds that son preference is waning and daughter preference is gaining momentum,consistent with significant downward trends in SRB.The study also reveals that value shifts and intergenera-tional relations have a strong influence on gender preferences and their translation into reproductive behavior.Additionally,this study highlights the challenges that are hindering the decline in son preference,suggesting that more efforts are needed to empower women and to change social norms.
文摘Women’s emancipation is an important part of the people’s liberation movement led by the Communist Party of China.Improving women’s political status is the basic condition for improving their social welfare rights and interests.Based on the data from county gazetteers covering more than 1,700 counties,the censuses of 1990 and 2000,and other representative surveys,we conducted an empirical study on the long-term effect of women’s political status on the sex ratio at birth.Our research found that the higher the ratio of female Communist Party members in each county in 1950,the more normal was the sex ratio at birth in the following 50 years.The improved political status of women aged 16-20 significantly raised the proportion of girls among surviving children,especially in the era of family planning.This demographic study provides empirical historical evidence for the first time on one aspect of the long-term social impact of the mission of the Chinese people’s liberation.
文摘The sex ratio at birth(SRB)in China began to rise rapidly in the 1980s and declined after 2009.The ratio has maintained a downward trend since 2009,but is still higher than the normal level.The government of China has committed to redress the distortions in SRB and has initiated multiple actions to accomplish that end.Against a background of economic development,accelerating modernization and the empowerment of women,China has strengthened governance and made significant progress in balancing the sex ratio at birth.This paper examines the trend for SRB in China,summarizes the practices that address gender imbalance at birth,and analyzes the challenges ahead.
