Social Demography of Health: Gender

- Compared to females, male mortality is higher at every age, especially ages 20-24
- Men have higher mortality rates of heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents, AIDS, and homicide
- Male babies die more often than female babies

"Women are sicker, men die quicker"

- Usually in the 20s-30s, more pronounced for males
- Males more likely to engage in risky behaviors
- Males 2.7 times as likely to die
- Lower difference at age extremes (ages 0-9, ages 85+)

- Life expectancy has increased for both sexes
- Between 2019-2020, males lost 1.8 years and females lost 1.2 years
- Greatest gains in 1940s for both sexes
- More recently, gains have slowed or reversed

- Very low in 1920 (1 year)
- Peaked in the 1970s (7.8 years)
- Narrowed in 1970-2015, (4.8 years in 2010)
- Increased to 5.7 in 2020

- Hormones
- X linked genes

- Friends and family
- Religious attendance

- Cigarette smoking
- Drinking
- Risky driving
- Diet
- Exercise

- Labor force participation
- Income

- Women are more likely to use healthcare services
- Men more likely to only seek help when the problem is already present

- Males have higher levels of testosterone
- Higher levels of testosterone lead to increased blood pressure, risk-taking, aggression, and violence

- Engage in violence
-Drive recklessly
-Abuse alcohol
- Use illicit drugs
- Consume tobacco
- Take occupational risks

- Typically caused by smoking, permanently causes damage to the lungs
- Now higher among females

- Are less likely to take care of their health
- Are more stoic
- Have a higher pain threshold
- More likely to regard safety/ health as irrelevant
- Are unaware of subtle changes in the body
- Dismiss healthcare needs
- Reluctant to seek medical health/ get regular health checkup

- Compared to men, women have a lower risk of death but a higher risk of morbidity or sickness
- Poorer health, greater use of health services
- Higher rates of acute illness (infectious diseases, digestive and respiratory disease)
- Higher rates of some chronic illness (arthritis, hypertension, galbladder conditions, migraine headaches, diabetes)

- 7.1% of adults identify as LGBTQ
-Identification has increased over time

- LGBTQ+ questioning may have difficulty obtaining healthcare
- May endure more chronic stressors and experience mental health issues (psychological distress, depression, anxiety, suicide )
- May engage in risky health behaviors (Smoking, binge drinking, unsafe sexual practices)
- May experience disrcimination, stigma, prejudice, rejectionm hostility
- May have challenges finding knowledgeable doctors (Medical schools devote small amount of time to teaching LGBTQ+ content )