HEALTH TRENDS AND STRATIFICATION GENDER

OBJECTIVES On completion of this section, you should be able to… 1. identify trends in life expectancy of males and females. 2. explain trends in mortality and morbidity rates between men and women. 3. discuss explanations put forward for differences in health / illness experiences between men and women.

TRENDS IN LIFE EXPECTANCY?? http://xtlearn.net/S/2830 At every stage of the life cycle, mortality rates for men are higher http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/deaths-registered-area-usual-residence/2012/sty-esp.html Women live longer than men. In the UK today life expectancy for men is 77yrs and for women 81yrs (Social Trends, 2010)

Men’s overall death rate is more than 40% higher than that of women. On average women live 5 years longer than men. Before the age of 65, almost 2/3rds of deaths are males. By the age of 85, there are twice as many females living compared to males

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2014/sty-what-do-we-die-from.html 1 Causes of death are very different for men and women: Men are more likely to suffer heart disease, cancer and HIV/Aids. Men are twice as likely to die in accidents as women and three times more likely to commit suicide.

Why do men die younger?

SMOKING Smoking rates of men and women Men smoke more than women Figure 2 (page 4) http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_386291.pdf Men smoke more than women

ADULT TEETOTALLERS BY GENDER? http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_395191.pdf page 6 BINGE DRINKING BY GENDER? Page 10 (as above link)

Morbidity rates “Men die quicker but women are sicker”.

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES Gender differences There are differences in health issues between men and women: Biological / natural Cultural / behavioural Structural/ material

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES Gender differences BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES As women live longer than men across most societies and cultures, many argue that women are the stronger sex. Certain illnesses are sex specific; such as: ovarian cancer and prostate cancer

Oestrogen protects against heart disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10500455 Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men, even if we discount the fact that women are more likely to live longer. The reasons for this are unclear. One factor that has been suggested is a lack of the hormone oestrogen in women after the menopause.

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES Gender differences CULTURAL DIFFERENCES In our society it is acceptable for women to admit to illness. Men are not seen as ‘macho’ if they moan about illness Women are socialised to talk about health. Women are more likely to visit the doctor’s. Women ask for more help from their doctor. Married women can sacrifice their own health in order to ensure the well-being of the family.

It is argued that due to women trying to combine family, home Health Trends and Stratification Gender differences CULTURAL DIFFERENCES It is argued that due to women trying to combine family, home and work commitments they suffer from more stress than men which can cause various illnesses including mental illness.

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES Gender differences STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES Women may be affected by poor housing as they are likely to be the partner who stays in the home to look after the children or at least to spend more time there even if they work. The same can be said for single parents who have ‘to keep going’ for the sake of the child. The majority of lone parents are women and lone parents are much more likely to experience poverty which has devastating effects on the health of family members.

EXPLANATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES Gender differences STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES Men work in more dangerous occupations leading to more accidents. Men more likely to work full-time, take overtime and work shifts – all increase levels of stress resulting in more illnesses and diseases which can lead to death.

Further reading: http://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-subjects/public-health/how-gender-influences-health-inequalities/5091216.fullarticle Nursing Times Ken Browne ‘An Introduction to Sociology’