Male contribution to diet and female reproductive success

Current Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 42 • Published In • Pages: 755-760 •
By Marlowe, Frank W.

Abstract

This article seeks to understand male-female bonding by testing the relationship between male contribution to subsistence (a proxy for male provisioning) and female reproductive success in foraging societies. Analysis supports a positive association.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherCombinationThe sample included every society that derived all or almost all of its subsistence from foraging and had data on at least one of the relevant variables, a total of 161

Hypotheses (3)

HypothesisSupported
Male contribution to subsistence will be negatively associated with infant mortality, juvenile mortality, and post-infant juvenile mortality (756-7).Not Supported
Male contribution to subsistence will be positively associated with female fertility (756, 758).Supported
Male contribution to subsistence will be positively associated with female reproductive success (756, 758).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Jessie Cohen  Amelia Piazza