What are the causes and impacts of changing gender structures?

Changing gender structures in populations as countries pass through the demographic transition

Demographic features associated with natural change….

• The biological fact that male births exceed female births (106 males : 100 females) so LEDC pyramids clearly show more younger males than females. http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/sexratio.htm

• Unless you take China = 100 females:120 males• In most parts of the world male mortality rates are

higher than female rates meaning longer female life expectancy so MEDC pyramids show more elderly females than males

Stage 2 - Uganda

• Concave or very steep sides = high birth rate and high death rate with short life expectancy

• More boys than girls

• Adults have equal males and females as childhood diseases and IMR and lifestyle cause more boys to die

• In ‘old age’ of 30s and 40s there may be more males as females die through childbirth and heavy female responsibility.

1. Sketch the pyramid

2. Annotate the pyramid with 3 gender related points

Stage 3 - China

• Population is larger as medicine has improved and the IMR has fallen

• In adulthood the gender ratio tends to be equal

• Out migration of males could create an imbalance with more females

•In old age the females usually outnumber the males. Emancipation of women is just beginning and so they are unlikely to have faced ‘workplace’ stress. Men die off at an earlier age from workplace stress, being involved in more hazardous occupations and from lifestyle diseases,

1. Sketch pyramid

2. Annotate 3 gender related points

Stage 3 - Zimbabwe

The impact of war can be clearly seen on the 45-55 year old age group.

What has happened to the males?

Stage 4 - UK

• Population begins to stabilise and then fall

• More boy babies are born but the birth rate is low

• Boys die at a faster rate because they are more prone to disease, become more involved in hazardous activities and make unhealthier lifestyle choices

• In adulthood the gender ratio is balanced unless an out-migration of males occurs e.g. Poland

• From the age of 73 onwards females outnumber males. The ratio increases from 1.3 at age 73 to nearly 3 at the age of 90.

• This is due to the higher life expectancy of women and higher male mortality during WWII

1. Draw the pyramid

2. Annotate 3 gender related features

Stage 4 - Europe

What changes do you notice over time?

Stage 5 - Russia

• Population declining

• Russia’s BR is similar to other European countries

• DR higher due to higher death rate of working age males due to alcohol induced heart disease

• There is a below average ratio of over 65 males – may be due to emigration and higher male mortality s a result of higher Soviet era deaths

1. Sketch pyramid2. Annotate 3 gender

related points

Stage 5 - Germany

• Low BR – more boys than girls

• There are a lot less men then women in the 70-85 range - many German men were killed in World War II.

• There is a large percentage of the population from 30 to 50 – slightly more men than women. These are the immigrants from the Arab and African world that have come to work in Germany.

1. Sketch pyramid2. Annotate 3 gender

related points

Task 2

• Card sort – Why does gender structure change?

• Sort the cards into the following categories:

• Biology

• Stages of the DTM

• Migration

• Gender concentrations

Gender StructureGender structure is influenced by two demographic

factors associated with natural change:

1) The biological fact that male births exceed female births – natural sex ratio is 106 males:100 females. An LEDC population pyramid is characterised by more younger males than females

2) Male mortality rates are higher than female rates – this means longer female life expectancy. An MEDC population pyramid is characterised by more elderly females than males

How does migration affect gender imbalance? Which sex tends to

migrate?

What happens to gender structures as they pass through the DTM?

Task 3

• Case Studies

• India – infanticide

• China – one child policy

• IVF and designer babies