Originally Posted by wood elf
THURSDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- In a somewhat unexpected finding, societal
male dominance over women -- patriarchy -- may help explain why men have a lower life expectancy than women
worldwide.
British researchers analyzed rates of female murders and
male death rates from all causes in 51 countries in Europe, Asia, Australasia, and North and South America. The
prevalence of violence against women was used to indicate the extent of patriarchal control in each of the
countries. Socioeconomic factors were also taken into consideration.
The study found that women lived longer than men in all 51 countries. The study also found that those
countries with higher rates of female murders (indicating higher levels of patriarchy) also had higher rates for
male death and shorter male life expectancies, compared to countries with lower female murder rates, the researchers
said.
In fact, statistical analysis showed that variations between
countries in rates of violence against women accounted for close to half (49 percent) of the variation in male death
rates, the researchers noted.
"Our data suggest that oppression and
exploitation harm the oppressors as well as those they oppress," researchers at the University of Liverpool
concluded.
They noted that the higher death rate and shorter life
expectancy among men is "a preventable social condition, which can potentially be tackled through global social
policy."
For example, changes can be made in the way that young
males are socialized into patriarchal gender roles, such as the emphasis on risk taking, aggression and suppression
of emotions, the researchers said.
The findings appear in the
current issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
