Gender Inequalities in Health Outcomes
Gender creates distinct patterns in health inequalities, particularly affecting women. Whilst women generally live longer than men, they experience more illness and severe health conditions throughout their lives, with 75% of autoimmune disease sufferers being women.
These conditions are often life-limiting rather than fatal, making it harder for women to work and provide for their families. The resulting stress can lead to mental health problems, creating additional challenges for both mothers and their children.
However, poverty amplifies gender-based health inequalities dramatically. Women in the most deprived areas have significantly lower life expectancy than women in affluent areas - sometimes even lower than men from advantaged backgrounds.
Surprising Fact: Poverty is such a powerful factor that it can override the natural female longevity advantage, with poor women having shorter life expectancy than wealthy men.