How does gender impact health inequality?
Until relatively recently, life expectancy was rising for men and women. However, statistics continue to show there is a life expectancy and morbidity gap.
Is life expectancy the same for men and women?
Evidence from a range of reports shows that, on average, women live at least four years longer than men. In 2022, the National Records of Scotland found male life expectancy was 76.5 years and female life expectancy was 80.7 years. For almost all causes of death the statistics are higher for men than women.
The Scottish Health Survey 2021 found that 18% of men in Scotland were living with cardiovascular disease compared to 14% of women.
On the other hand, men tend to have less limiting or non-limiting illness than women. In the Scottish Health Survey of 2021, 77% of men described their general health as 鈥榞ood鈥 or 鈥榲ery good鈥 compared to just 73% of women. There is some evidence that women are more likely to report illness than men, which may contribute to the higher figures.
Why do men have lower life expectancy and higher rates of early death?
Reasons to explain men's lower life expectancy and higher rates of early death include:
- men take part in more risk-taking activities, such as high impact sports
- men are less likely to visit their GP to seek preventative care
- men are more likely to make poorer lifestyle choices, eg consuming more alcohol
Why do women have greater life expectancy but higher rates of ill health?
Reasons to explain women's greater life expectancy but higher rates of ill health include:
- women tend to be at increased risk of greater poverty (although the pay gap in Scotland was at its lowest level ever at 1.7%) and the links between poverty and ill health are strong
- women take on a greater role of caring for children and elderly family members which increases stress levels and affects health
- women visit their GP more regularly reporting greater levels of illness but also accessing services more quickly with better long-term health outcomes
- until recently, fewer women smoked than men, although in Scotland there is little difference today. In 2021, the SHS reported that 11% of women and 12% of men aged 16 years smoked in Scotland