Clegg E J, Cross J F
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Aberdeen.
J Biosoc Sci. 1995 Jan;27(1):79-94. doi: 10.1017/s0021932000007021.
Estimates of fertility in Protestant Barra and Catholic Harris, islands in the Outer Hebrides, over the period 1856-1985, show that in both islands fertility declined, although marital fertility was generally greater than in Scotland as a whole, and illegitimate fertility was less. However, in Barra during 1966-75 there were pronounced rises in all the indices; illegitimate fertility showed the smallest rise. The publication of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae may have played a part in this change in fertility, although other, probably local, factors must have been acting, as the first rise in numbers of births occurred before the publication of the encyclical. Other than this transient rise, the religious difference between Harris and Barra had little effect on changes in fertility over the whole period. Indices of proportions married showed declines until after World War 2, followed by steep increases. The marked decline in fertility in both islands may be due in part to this low nuptiality. In addition, a trend of occupation away from traditional crofting and fishing towards more skilled mercantile and professional employment may have played a role.
对外赫布里底群岛中的新教巴拉岛和天主教哈里斯岛在1856年至1985年期间的生育率估计表明，两个岛屿的生育率均有所下降，尽管婚内生育率总体上高于整个苏格兰，非婚生育率则较低。然而，在1966年至1975年期间的巴拉岛，所有指标都有显著上升；非婚生育率的上升幅度最小。教皇通谕《人类生命》的发布可能在生育率的这一变化中起到了一定作用，尽管肯定还有其他可能是当地的因素在起作用，因为出生人数的首次上升发生在通谕发布之前。除了这一短暂上升外，哈里斯岛和巴拉岛之间的宗教差异在整个时期对生育率变化几乎没有影响。已婚比例指数在第二次世界大战前呈下降趋势，之后急剧上升。两个岛屿生育率的显著下降可能部分归因于这种低结婚率。此外，从传统的小农场经营和捕鱼业转向更具技能的商业和专业就业的职业趋势可能也起到了作用。
