This study examines the impact of cultural gender norms created by differences in traditional
agricultural practices on observed sex ratios at birth over last four decades. Building on the
plough hypothesis developed by Ester Boserup and the work of Alesina et al. (2013), this
study provides a further empirical test of the legacy of the plough. I perform empirical
analysis on micro level data from the Demographic and Health Survey in over 75 countries
to develop a number of stylized facts on this relationship. Descendants of plough societies
exhibit a more male skewed sex ratio at birth today. These descendants exhibit a highly maleskewed
sex ratio of last birth, which is achieved through son-based fertility stopping
preferences. From the 1980s onward the expected sex ratio at birth of plough descendants
becomes highly male skewed at lower levels of total fertility, providing evidence that these
descendants realize their son preference through sex selective abortions.