Evaluating the Sex Ratio Hypothesis: County-Level Sex Ratios and Nonmarital Fertility for African Americans

• In Event: 174 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 12. Race and Health

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between county-level sex ratios for African Americans and births to unmarried African American women. Compiling data from a variety of different sources, the analysis considers whether low sex ratios for blacks are associated with out-of-wedlock fertility and explores the type of environment in which this association is strongest. I find a negative relationship between male-to-female sex ratios and nonmarital fertility for blacks, but only in highly-segregated urban counties. The results suggest that a county’s level of segregation and urban/rural classification are important factors in the association between sex ratios and nonmarital fertility for African Americans.

Author

• Marie L Neumann, University of Washington