Comments on: Evolutionary Psychology is the Reason I Only Have Boys

By: sara

sara — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:54:36 +0000

Try a book called Ever Since Adam And Eve – same vein, kind of hard to get ahold of, but also beautiful illustrations and fascinating. But also, statistically – the higher status you are, the more likely you are to have sons. People in poorer situations have more daughters – the evolutionary theory being that if you are poor, a daughter might marry up, but if you are wealthy, a son will keep your possessions. Mechanism not known, seems to have to do with varying infant mortality rates. Happens in most mammals.

By: Stepiphany

Stepiphany — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:48:16 +0000

Interesting, but not shocking study. My mom is probably the most sexist person I know, in spite of the fact that she often dipped into notraditional roles for herself.

By: badmommymoments

badmommymoments — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:26:43 +0000

I was just thinking the same thing.

By: mrsbear

mrsbear — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:47:08 +0000

I am alright with my daughters proving me a failure in the reproductive arena, as long as I'm not a grandmother before I'm 40.

By: The Dental Maven

The Dental Maven — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:54 +0000

My dad used to say that a woman without a career is one step away from the welfare line, and I took his words to heart.

By: The Mayor

The Mayor — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:46:42 +0000

I think I my self esteem may be seriously damaged. The eldest 2 of my 5 daughters are ambitious and busy working full time, pursuing an MBA, enjoying what little free time there is and NOT procreating. That's fine with me.
That's fine with me, I did enough procreating for all of us.

By: ilinap

ilinap — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:17:36 +0000

It seems that I had boys for good reason too. And now when people ask me if I'm going to have more children to try for a girl, I've got this study and your blog post as my ammo. Sidebar: I HATE when people assume I'm unfilled just because I don't have a daughter. Boys rock.

By: Mira

Mira — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:41:31 +0000

I have to say that I love that 'benevolent sexism' is BS in that article. It so is. Anyway, it is hard to keep people from asking my daughter, not even 2, to be the more responsible one, clean up and behave herself better. People just assume boys will be rowdy. I am not immune from gender roles. And I have to work hard not to be the old fashioned mom who does all the housework. Or I will have to once I find an alternative. I'm hoping intellectually I can counteract what they see. Because otherwise my daughter will be very confused.

By: Stephanie B.

Stephanie B. — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:04:35 +0000

My father was one of the most extreme feminists I know, one of nine brothers and three sisters. He had five daughters and two sons (and most of his generations tips the scale a bit to the daughter side). I consider myself quite progressive myself and girls outnumber boys in our household 3:2 (including parents).

I wonder if that means I'm weird.