GENDER, AGE, AND THE RISK OF VIOLENT DEATH IN CANADA, 1950-1986

This research examines the relationship between gender, age, and four principal causes of violent death - homicide, suicide, motor vehicle accidents, and 'other' accidents. It has been argued that these four causes of violent death result from a predilection to excessive risk-taking behaviour. It has also been suggested by convergence theorists that although risk-taking is traditionally a male dominated activity, with the increase in the proportion of women in the labour force, and increasing egalitarianism, the gap between male and female risk-taking should narrow. Using Canadian data to test this assumption, our findings reveal continuing differences between male and female rates of violent death, and little support for convergence theory. Significant changes are also noted in the pattern of age-specific mortality rates over the period of investigation.