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Gender inequality in workloads explained by operational sex ratio
Yuan Chen1,2, Erhao Ge1,2, Liqiong Zhou2
1Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, WC1H 0BW London, UK.
Iscience
|June 17, 2024
Summary
In villages with fewer men due to monasticism, women perform more labor. This study reveals how sex ratios influence the division of labor and gender inequality.
Area of Science:
- Human behavioral ecology
- Cultural anthropology
- Sociology
Background:
- Ecological factors influence sexual selection and gender inequality.
- Cultural diversity, like monasticism in Southwest China, creates varied sex ratios.
- Understanding sex ratio's impact on labor division is key to gender disparity origins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sex ratio and the sexual division of labor.
- To assess how monasticism affects workload distribution between genders.
- To explore the role of operational sex ratio in gender inequality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized activity trackers to quantify workload via step counts in 561 individuals.
- Studied 55 villages across six regions in Southwest China with diverse cultural practices.
- Analyzed data considering village sex ratios and monasticism prevalence.
Main Results:
- Lower sex ratios and higher monasticism rates correlated with increased female workload.
- Men's workload decreased in non-celibate populations within female-biased sex ratios.
- Increasing operational sex ratio was associated with diminishing gender inequality.
Conclusions:
- Sex ratio significantly shapes the sexual division of labor and gender inequality.
- Monastic celibacy is a cultural factor influencing workload distribution.
- Findings provide insights into the ecological and cultural drivers of gender disparities.
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