Sex or gender? CMAJ 1997;156:1695 See response by: B.B. Allan Should "Declining sex ratios in Canada" (CMAJ 1997;156:37-41 [abstract / résumé]), by Dr. Bruce B. Allan and associates, be reconsidered as "Altered gender ratios at birth"? If there has been a decrease in the proportion of male births, then there has been an obligatory increase in the proportion of female births. Using male gender as a default reference for sex ratio represents (approximately) one-half of the picture. The use of loaded language such as, "the loss of 5.6 male births per 1000 from 1970­1990," or "the significant decline in male proportion," or "the excess of female births" is inconsistent with the recognition of equal worth of both genders. Neutral terms more accurately represent study findings without subjective judgement of data. Kirsten L. Smith, BSc Faculty of Medicine, Class of 1999 Ian S. Tummon, MD Associate Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Western Ontario London, Ont. Send a letter to the editor responding to this letter Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cette lettre | CMAJ June 15, 1997 (vol 156, no 12) / JAMC le 15 juin 1997 (vol 156, no 12) |