Gender and suicide among laborers

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Abstract
The literature on occupation and suicide has neglected gender differences. as well as occupations in the lower socio-economic classes. The present study tests the thesis that statistically infrequent role sets foster relatively high suicide rates. An analysis of gender differences in suicide among laborers confirms this perspective for females. Female laborers had a suicide rate of 38.6/100,000 or 7.6 times that of females in general. Overrepresentation of males in the ranks of laborers does not, however, decrease their suicide risk. An economic theory of suicide, however, is consistent with the high rates of both male and female laborers. The results provide no support for a Durkheimian theory of social class and suicide.

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