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Excess Female Mortality in Nineteenth-Century England and Wales

A Regional Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2016

Kirsty McNay ,
Jane Humphries  and
Stephan Klasen
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Abstract

Sex differences in mortality among historical populations are an intriguing yet neglected issue. In mid-nineteenth-century England and Wales, although women and girls enjoyed an overall longevity advantage, they tended to die at higher rates than males at ages when modern life tables show female advantage. We use multilevel modeling to analyze these sex differences in mortality. We identify significant regional variation, related to local demographic conditions, economic structure, and the nature of female employment. But some regional variation remains unexplained, suggesting the need for further investigation.

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Social Science History , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , winter 2005 , pp. 649 - 681
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Copyright © Social Science History Association 2005

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