A cross-cultural study of drinking: iii. sex differences

Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol • Vol/Iss. 3 • Published In • Pages: 49-61 •
By Child, Irvin L. , Barry III, Herbert, Bacon, Margaret K.

Abstract

This study examines sex differences in alcohol consumption, suggesting that they are related to a nomadic or rural settlement, low accumulation of food resources, and strong child training pressure toward achievement. The authors suggest that societal norms often limit drunkenness in women because women's responsibilities (such as childcare) would deter incapacity due to intoxication.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Other
Ethnographic Reports

Hypotheses (6)

HypothesisSupported
"Societies with sex differences [in drinking] tend to have a nomadic or rural settlement pattern, economy based on hunting, less accumulation of food resources, stronger child training toward achievement and more punishment of child for failure to achieve" (59)Supported
"Societies with a definite sex difference [in drinking alcohol tend to be societies where] alcohol was used aboriginally rather than being use postcontact" (56)Supported
"Societies with a definite sex difference were preponderantly higher than those without evidence of a sex difference in frequency of ceremonial drinking and tended to be higher in frequency of religious drinking and in approval of drinking" (57)Supported
"Societies without evidence of a sex difference [in drinking] tended to be higher in hostility change, in sociability intensity, availability of alcoholic beverages, procurement effort and extent of problem" (57)Supported
"Among societies with aboriginal drinking those with a definite sex difference have significantly higher scores in occurrence of extreme hostility" (58)Supported
"Societies without evidence of a sex difference [in drinking] tend to be higher inavailability of alcoholic beverages" (58)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas  Amelia Piazza