| This research examines the association between county-level sex ratios for African Americans and births to unmarried African American women. Utilizing Census Bureau intercensal population estimates and CDC natality data as well as measures for urbanicity and residential segregation, the analysis considers whether low sex ratios for African Americans are associated with out-of-wedlock fertility and explores the context in which this association is strongest. I find a negative association between male-to-female sex ratios and nonmarital fertility for African Americans, but only in highly-segregated metropolitan counties. The results suggest that a county's level of segregation and metropolitan classification are important factors when considering the association between sex ratios and nonmarital fertility for African Americans. |
