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I would posit this was a "winner take all" outcome compounded by economics and biology. High infant mortality, as well as the high risk of death from even a si

I would posit this was a "winner take all" outcome compounded by economics and biology. High infant mortality, as well as the high risk of death from even a simple infection or injury, would be enough to reduce the number of males in a population, to concentrate means into the hands of a few. Then, the progeny of these hardened or simply lucky few would be better insulated from disease or injury than other males, perpetuating the cycle.

simonh 9y ago
Why do you think infant mortality would affect men but not women?
- ericfrenkiel 9y ago
  It's a well known fact in human biology. Just a couple links on the reasons why: "Researchers uncover several reasons why boys are 'weaker sex'" https://www.upi.com/Researchers-uncover-several-reasons-why-boys-are-weaker-sex/69121384750835/ https://www.upi.com/Researchers-uncover-several-reasons-why-... "Why is infant mortality higher in boys than in girls? A new hypothesis based on preconception environment and evidence from a large sample of twins." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23151996/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23151996/
  - simonh 9y ago
    >It's long been known slightly more boys are born because fewer survive... Ok, but this accounts for a few percentage ponts difference, not 17 to 1.
    - ericfrenkiel 9y ago
      Right; economics probably exaggerates what is already a biological reality.