The life expectancy of both men and women has substantially increased over the past 130 years. Most people would recognise that women have always had a longer life expectancy than men. But did you did you know that the gap between the life expectancy of men and women is wider now than it was in 1884? Now why would that be?
Well the author of this paper has a theory:
“Feminism is wrong about which sex has it harder when it comes to health. Men are the real victims of biased public health programs designed to help women at the expense of men. But this section has only explored a few areas where feminism has created a false perception of which sex needs greater attention to their health issues. It should be clear that men have no special privileges when it comes to health. However, women’s health, both physically and psychologically, is taken very seriously, is far better funded, and women are privileged with longer healthier lives when compared to men because of the social and political privileges that are exclusive to women. Hence health is a men’s rights issue that needs to be addressed.”
In 2012, suicide was the third leading cause of death for American men and boys in the 10-14, 15-19, and 20-24 age groups along with the second leading cause of death for men 25-29 and 30-34. That year, it was also the leading cause of death for US soldiers. Overall, suicide was the 7th leading cause of death for American men in 2012 with males making up more than 78% of suicide victims for the year.
In 2012, more than twice as many boys aged 10-14 took their own lives than were victims of homicide. The only two causes of death that took more boys’ lives in this age group were cancer and accidental injuries. More than 72% of the children in this age group who took their own lives were boys. Even at a young age, boys are far more likely to end their own lives.
Data from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/LCWK1_2012.pdf (as cited here)
The issue of suicide is addressed in this other post within my blog.
Further information concerning men’s health can be found in the various reference works listed below:
See this chart extracted from a US Government report called ‘Healthy People 2030’ (Refer Twitter thread)
“Each year, about 14% of the NIH’s research budget goes toward women’s health and about 6% goes toward men’s health” (Source)
Project star Sarah Harris shocked over co-host’s revelation (20 May 2024) The ‘Gender Pain Gap’. #FacePalm big time
Bias against men in health research: one researcher’s journey from exercise science to men’s health, by James Nuzzo (11 July 2023)
A silent crisis in men’s health gets worse (17 April 2023)
Are men less willing to engage in traditional talking therapy because therapy has been feminised? (31 January 2023)
Why do men die younger than women? (18 December 2022) Zero mention of funding differentials re: research & treatment of men’s versus women’s ailments. Zero mention of ongoing feminisation of the health care sector and treatment methodology
Origin of Sex-Biased Mental Disorders: Do Males and Females Experience Different Selective Regimes? (12 September 2022)
Bias against men in health research: one researcher’s journey from exercise science to men’s health (11 July 2022)
Why do the World Health Organisation’s gender equity gatekeepers struggle to acknowledge that masculinity can be good for health? (30 June 2022)
End merit as we know it (14 February 2022) Eric Lander could have made a huge contribution to public health by curing cancer, but he upset feminists
Women’s health ambassador appointed (23 December 2021) UK
Why would you stand up for men and boys? Milgram’s message of hope to male psychology (2 December 2021)
4 in 5 Australians back more Government funding for men’s issues (14 June 2021)
80% of those diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer are men, the leading cancer caused by HPV, surpassing cervical cancer. However, just 16% of men aged 18 to 21 years old have received a dose of the HPV vaccine, which is a cancer-prevention vaccine for men as well as women (29 April 2021) Reddit discussion thread
Are Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Counsellors Overlooking the Needs of Their Male Clients? (10 April 2021)
Gender bias in healthcare: Five ways men are left behind (December 2020)
10 Reasons government’s Injury Strategy must target men (November 2020)
Lack of men’s health strategies may have cost lives in pandemic (19 June 2020)
Is there really a men’s health crisis? (15 November 2019) USA
Australia’s National Men’s Health Strategy launched today (11 April 2019)
APA issues first-ever guidelines for practice with men and boys (2019)
Government medical research funding favors women (30 August 2018)
Uneven access to health services drives life expectancy gaps: WHO (4 April 2019) And yet again, the standard simplistic and blaming explanation is rolled out: Men choose not to go and see the doctor often enough or fast enough! See also related Tweet.
Men with prostate cancer wait four times as long for a diagnosis as women with breast cancer (20 December 2017)
Why Men Don’t Care About The Healthcare Debate (13 November 2017) USA
Men are killed at a greater rate than women in Australia – what can we do to reduce their risk? (28 June 2017)
Barbara Kay: Why does a report on ‘gender equity’ in mental health all but ignore the illnesses of men and boys? (16 May 2017)
Men DO open up about their problems – but no-one is listening (20 March 2017) Reddit discussion thread and linked article.
If men are favored in our society, why do they die younger than women? (8 March 2017)
The American Heart Association Is Sexist with #GoRedForWomen. More Men Die From Heart Disease So Why Not #GoRedForALL? (4 February 2017) Reddit Mensrights discussion thread.
38 new substance-use treatment beds for women opening in Vancouver (25 January 2017) Canada. See related Reddit thread here.
“A total of 914 people died of a drug overdose in B.C. last year. Of that, 176 were women”.
Why males are more likely to die from conception to old age (26 August 2016)
‘Equal pay day’ this year is April 12; the next ‘equal occupational fatality day’ will be in the year 2027 (9 April 2016)
Men’s Health: A Global Problem Hiding in Plain Sight (24 March 2016)
STOP: Discrimination against Men by Psychologists (March 2016) Australia. A change.org petition
The Men’s Health Gap: Men must be included in the Global Health Equity Agenda (undated)
Obesity in women ‘as dangerous as terror threat’: Extraordinary claim by health chief as she uses speech to demand condition is added to list of emergency threats. But obesity in the UK affects far more men than women. Why is she only concerned about women? with related discussion thread here
Why is there a womenshealth.gov but not a menshealth.gov? (3 June 2015) Reddit mensrights discussion thread
Gender Bias In Osteoporosis Screening (5 November 2014)