In the first-ever study to investigate the link between gender equality and life expectancy, it was found that both men and women live longer in countries with higher levels of gender equality.
According to SciTech Daily, the study also suggested that the improvement in gender equality initially benefits women's lives and health; but over time, it leads to longer life expectancy for men, eventually reducing the gap between genders. However, the results varied among countries with different levels of socioeconomic development and geographical proximity.
Link Between Gender Equality and Life Expectancy
The World Economic Forum's report has revealed that events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate emergency, large-scale conflict, and displacement are hampering progress toward gender parity, threatening socioeconomic development, and curbing gains in life expectancy.
Researchers used the modified global gender gap index to investigate the relationship between gender equality and life expectancy across 156 countries between 2010 and 2021.
The study, titled "Gender Equality Related to Gender Differences in Life Expectancy Across the Globe Gender Equality and Life Expectancy" published in PLOS Global Public Health, found that gender equality in education had the strongest association with longer life expectancy for both men and women, indicating that investing in education, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is crucial.
While high-income countries have made substantial progress to address gender inequality, investing in gender equality may still benefit life expectancy, particularly for men.
Dr. Cat Pinho-Gomes, the lead author of the study, emphasized that the weaker association between gender equality in the political domain and the gender gap in life expectancy raises concerns about how gender equality is being implemented by political systems globally, with women still facing significant challenges, including discrimination, balancing private, family, and political life, gaining support from political parties, and securing campaign funding.
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Findings Can Help Improve Policies for Gender Equality
As SciTech Daily reports, the findings reveal that in 2021 each 10% increase in the mGGGI is linked to a four to three months increase in life expectancy in women, while a three to five months increase in the life expectancy of men leads to an eight-month wider gender gap, perhaps due to geographical regions.
Dr. Pinho-Gomes pointed out that the findings have significant implications for policymakers, particularly as the world recovers from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers assert that their study is reliable and robust, thanks to the quality of the data from the World Economic Forum and the broad range of countries studied.
However, NPR reports that the study has some limitations, such as not having data available for every country worldwide, which means that the observed associations could be different in other regions. Additionally, the index used in the study is not comprehensive, and including more indicators of gender inequality may lead to different results.
It is also possible that factors, such as socioeconomic development and cultural norms, could explain the correlations observed between gender equality and life expectancy. Nonetheless, the authors suggest that their findings can provide useful guidance for policymakers working in various fields, including public health.
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