Sex and Suicide: A Cross-National Test of a Convergence Hypothesis

Durkheim argued in Suicide that over time the suicide rates of males and females would become similar and converge. Using data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank, comparisons of the female-to-male suicide ratio across societies at different levels of development, and with varying degrees of female involvement, are studied. The results reveal generally non-significant differences, and when significant, differences found are opposite of those predicted. We conclude that it may finally be time to say that some of Durkheim's theory/arguments concerning suicide are refuted.