Anecdotal Evidence: Gender Distribution In The Church

[rongo]

I've noticed that in my sphere of experience, there seems to be many more boys than girls in new births (as far as I can observe). I have 3 boys and 1 girl, and the ratio of boys to girls in my ward is and has been roughly 2:1 for eleven years now. Interestingly, my first mission president just held a 20th anniversary mission reunion, and requested current pictures for a book. In looking at the families of those who served 17-20 years ago in my mission, there is also an overwhelming surplus of boys to girls in almost all other families as well (in this group). I know that this is extremely anecdotal and a small sample size. Statistically, it should even out and approach 50/50 (I think that there are supposed to be slightly more girls than boys, worldwide). I'm curious if others have noticed a wide disparity of boys and girls. I have heard others comment on this, without being prompted or "led" by my observations. Are there any pockets out there with many more girls than boys? Thanks!

Edited April 6, 2013 by rongo

[rongo]

On a separate note, is anyone else having trouble making new paragraphs here? I simply can't. No matter how many times I hit "enter," the cursor just stays there. Sorry about the formatting ---- it's not my fault.

[Duncan]

my little sister has 3 boys and some friends of ours have 6 girls. I haven't ever thought about more boys or girls actually!

[Stone holm]

Have not noticed that in our Ward, have noticed that the number of women compared to men attending in the Ward looks to be about 3 women to each male.

[rongo]

How about in the primary ---- not just sacrament meeting?

[Whiskeypete]

In the US the ratio of births (male:female) is 1.05:1

But at age 65, the ratio is 0.77:1

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

[Duncan]

Have not noticed that in our Ward, have noticed that the number of women compared to men attending in the Ward looks to be about 3 women to each male.

same, some of the Elders quorums with brethren not serving elsewhere are almost extinct. One ward here the EQP is a guy who just moved in! knows no one and was called almost immediately

[smac97]

I have a large number of siblings, and so does my wife. Almost all of them are active in the Church. The total tally of boys and girls from our family and our siblings' families is 17 boys and 25 girls (so far).

Thanks,

-Smac

[mercyngrace]

Rongo,

My parents have 6 children:

3 males, 3 females

They have 27 grandchildren:

10 males, 17 females

They have 17 (+2 more on the way) great grandchildren:

9 males, 8 females

As for my children, I'm like you. We had 3 boys and then a girl.

[TAO]

My ward is unusual. At my age group, more males than females. A few years younger though, and there is more females than males.

Edited April 6, 2013 by TAO

[sweetpotatoh]

I have 5 sisters, I am the only boy. I have three daughters. No sons. My sister has 3 girls and one boy. My other sister has twin girls and to other daughters. I also have a sister who has A little girl. To be fair the last sister has 3 sons and only one daughter. The fifth remains childless. 3:1 ratio. Ah to live with a male would be awesome. Sigh.

[omni]

Sounds like the Lord is just getting us ready for the return of polygamy.

[Kenngo1969]

Dang it! You're rainin' on my parade, here, Rongo! I just posted the following on my blog:

Do you need someone to “take away [your] reproach"?

Are you one of seven independent, career-minded LDS, SWFs willing to “eat [your] own bread” and “wear [your] own apparel,” seeking an LDS, SWM, RM so that you can “be called by [my] name to take away [your] reproach” (See Isaiah 4:1)? If so, maybe I’m your guy! (Hey, I’ll take what I can get!) Reply to Ken@reproachremover.com!

Edited April 6, 2013 by Kenngo1969

[Bikeemikey]

I got one of each.

[Stone holm]

I have six sons and one daughter, my wife has three daughters, we have ten grandsons and three grandaughters

[canard78]

In the US the ratio of births (male:female) is 1.05:1

But at age 65, the ratio is 0.77:1

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

Thanks for some rigour in an otherwise slightly anecdotal thread.

In anthropology and demography, the human sex ratio is the sex ratio for Homo sapiens (i.e., the ratio of males to females in a population). Like most sexual species, the sex ratio is approximately 1:1. In humans the secondary sex ratio (i.e., at birth) is commonly assumed to be 105 boys to 100 girls, an assumption that is a subject of debate in the scientific community. The sex ratio for the entire world population is 100 males to 99 females.

Even in the absence of sex selection practices, a range of "normal" sex ratios at birth of between 103 to 108 boys per 100 girls has been observed in different economically developed countries,[11] and among different ethnic and racial groups within a given country.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sex_ratio

So those who speculate on polygamy solutions (I appreciate often in jest) need to consider this:

There are in the region of 10million 'pre-8yo' deaths per year.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_mortality

Our theology teaches they get saved:

17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation.

20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.

22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing— (Moroni

See also King Follett discourse.

So, in the last 200 years alone there may have well over a billion infant deaths. With a ratio of 1.05:1 for male:female... There will be plenty of men to go round in the celestial kingdom.

If we flow our theology to its conclusion, it also implies that the majority of people in the Celestial Kingdom will be those who died in infancy in Africa/Asia.

[CASteinman]

Central Limit Theorem and Random Sampling Errors probably account for all these variations.

[PoisonWell]

Overall I've always thought there were more females in my ward. That may have to do with activity rates though (I've always thought females seemed more interested in the church, but I don't really know).

[BCSpace]

Are there any pockets out there with many more girls than boys? Thanks!

5 girls, 2 boys. Your boys better better be up to my standards because I have guns and some property out in back.....

[firepatch36]

In my ward the kids are heavily skewed towards girls. One couple has 4 girls/1 boy, another 4 girls/ 0 boys, another 5 girls/1 boy etc. I assumed there was a ward out there with the opposite ratio.

[canard78]

Unless there's some strange belief that the heavens are sending more girls to Mormons I'm not sure what the point of the conversation is?

The male:female ratio isn't skewed at all. They will of course be skewed on small samples of 200-300 members in one ward, and I agree that there seems to often a higher proportion of sisters who are either single or have non-member/less-active husbands, but this only a reflection on church membership and not on population.

Given, as I said, the billion+ who have died in infancy, there's really nothing to speculate on.

If, on the other hand it's a question of whether there are more female active Mormons than male, I'd say probably.