Female productivity and mortality in early-20th-century Taiwan

In late-Qing-dynasty Taiwan (1870–1895), female infanticide and general neglect killed over 15% of young girls. During the early years of Japanese rule (1895–1915), female infanticide was almost completely eliminated and the treatment of girls improved. This paper argues that the increase in the wil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Economics and human biology 2006-06, Vol.4 (2), p.206-221
Main Author: Olds, Kelly B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Cohort Studies
Efficiency
Female
Female infanticide
Female labor participation
Female mortality
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infanticide - trends
Male
Sex Factors
Sex ratio
Taiwan
Women, Working - history
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Summary:In late-Qing-dynasty Taiwan (1870–1895), female infanticide and general neglect killed over 15% of young girls. During the early years of Japanese rule (1895–1915), female infanticide was almost completely eliminated and the treatment of girls improved. This paper argues that the increase in the willingness to raise daughters was due to an increase in adult female productivity. Under Japanese rule, female seclusion decreased, female labor market participation greatly increased and the custom of foot-binding was ended. These changes increased the expected value of raising a daughter relative to raising a son.
ISSN:1570-677X
1873-6130
DOI:10.1016/j.ehb.2005.12.002