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Engineers Have More Sons, Nurses More Daughters

Posted by Hemos on from the but-what-about-female-engineers-and-male-nurses dept.

Bifurcati writes "While it might be irrelevant for many /.ers, a recent study has shown that people in stereotypically male professions (engineering, IT, mathematics, etc) are more likely to have sons than daughters, while nurses, therapists and teachers tend to produce more girls. Based on independent survey data, engineering types produce 140 boys to every 100 girls, while nurses and the like produce 135 girls to 100 boys. The explanation is unclear, but it might have interesting long-term social implications. A more detailed summary of the journal article is available on Illuminating Science."

4 of 668 comments (clear)

  1. Hermaphrodism by DTC · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So if a nurse mated with an engineer, is there more of a chance of hermaphrodism?

  2. Hermaphrodite by lbmouse · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So, if a nurse and engineer have only one child, chances are it will be a hermaphrodite? Suppose if they conceive it doggy-style they will have a hermaphrodite puppy? I hate these types of studies.

  3. So, 50/50 by joshsnow · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I work in IT. My wife teaches nursing. Does this mean we'll have a boy and a girl (please)? :)

  4. But... by marko123 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I'm an engineer. What if I marry a nurse?

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