Does human sexual dimorphism influence fracture frequency, types and distribution?

Abstract

This study explores the hypothesis that the pattern of gender inequality in a community influences the frequency, patterns and distribution of fractures. As it is not possible to read gender relations from skeletons, it is - following several research results - assumed that the level of gender inequality is reflected in sexual dimorphism. Thus the study design consists in correlating a measure of sexual dimorphism with measures of frequencies, patterns and distribution of skeletal trauma between the two sexes. Nearly two hundreds individuals from two medieval Danish cemeteries have been examined (43 females/48 males from Jutland and 46 females/49 males from Funen). Sexual dimorphism was assessed by means of measurements on the pelvis and, in accordance with conventional wisdom, the level of sexual dimorphism was found to be lower in the Funen than in the Jutland sample. The fracture frequencies, patterns and distribution were estimated for the two skeletal samples. No significant difference between the fracture frequencies or types on the two sites was found, but the distribution of fractures between the sexes in Ribe was found to be significantly different. The study indicates a level of relationship between human sexual dimorphism, gender roles, and the distribution of fractures between the sexes. Studies of larger samples will help clarify this.