{"id":8358,"date":"2025-06-18T15:59:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/?p=8358"},"modified":"2025-06-19T13:34:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T11:34:42","slug":"the-gender-health-gap-why-women-live-longer-than-men-but-spend-more-years-in-worse-health-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/articles\/the-gender-health-gap-why-women-live-longer-than-men-but-spend-more-years-in-worse-health-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gender health gap: why do women live longer than men, but spend more years in worse health conditions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"Hands
Hands of a senior citizen holding the cane. Credit : Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), in 2023, the life expectancy of women in France was 85 years, and 80 for men<\/a>. However, according to Eurostat statistics, when comparing the number of healthy years of men and women, this difference narrows down to zero. This outcome was long assumed to be rooted in differences in biological factors, with women being more exposed to chronic diseases than men<\/a>. However, this cause has recently been challenged by studies in the social sciences. Women indeed face disparities in several areas such as the labor market and access to financial resources. These drawbacks also impact their health status and access to healthcare services. A wide range of studies<\/a> now indicate the main factors explaining such differences.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The role of labour market specialization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An understanding of the role of women in the labor market<\/a> helps to explain why they tend to spend many years later in life with chronic conditions in comparison to men. Indeed, women tend to predominate in jobs involving caring activities such as teaching, nursing and caregiving. These types of jobs require physical tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and providing personal care. These tasks are found to be associated with stress and anxiety, depression, increased emotional burden and, in the long run, musculoskeletal problems and fatigue. Since women are highly represented in these jobs, they are more likely to end up with such health conditions which become chronic in later life. Long-term caregiving, especially without adequate support, is strongly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to financial means and time availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Limited financial access is another important factor which prevents women from accessing healthcare and seeking help and advice with regard to their health. In many households, men control financial decisions. This can restrict women\u2019s ability to spend money on their own health needs. When working, women are often the secondary earner in the family, and their resources are limited, which prevent them from accessing specialized consultation or medication. Furthermore, at a global level, women perform most of the caregiving and domestic tasks. This limits their time and ability to seek care for themselves, especially for non-emergency or preventive services. <\/a>They often delay or forgo their own healthcare needs in order to tend to those of children, elders, or spouses. In this way, women might postpone seeking medical advice and end up with more serious conditions, which leads to higher chances of chronic conditions later in life.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender-biased healthcare systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The healthcare system is also gender-biased<\/a>. As a result of social norms, women are frequently perceived as fragile and overemotional, which results in their health-related complaints being viewed through the prism of deep-rooted stereotypes<\/a>. As a results, women\u2019s symptoms are often interpreted as exaggerated or psychosomatic and thus not taken seriously. Even in high income countries, women receive different treatments to men for the same conditions, and are less frequently screened than men. In the context of cardiovascular disease, a number of studies confirm these disparities. \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important aspect of the healthcare context is that currently most doctors are still men. This prevents women from seeking treatment for fear of abuse, maltreatment and harassment. This is particularly evident with regard to reproductive healthcare<\/a>. Social stigma associated with certain conditions such as HIV as well as social isolation are also found to be among the causes of why women avoid seeking treatment at healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender-biased health-care research and data collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In clinical research, women have long been excluded from trials, although ostensibly these were intended to address key health issues affecting them. As a result, such research has provided evidence mainly based on the male population, while treatments (such as drugs and medication) were then administered to both genders. In this way, women and minorities have been exposed to harm by the final product. In the case of drugs tests, evidence suggests that the majority are conducted on the male population, which could provide a possible explanation as to why women have often stronger reactions to medications than men. Overall, collection of data on women has been limited in several areas including health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research for health equality<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research on gender health disparities is on the increase, yet still affected by key limitations, as data on women\u2019s health and conditions have only recently been extensively collected. Indeed, reducing the gender gap is at the core of societal goals. However, which precise factors are able to explain the multiple gender differences in health is an open question. Since norms, institutional and cultural factors are intertwined, a host of research questions remain open to exploration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, gender norms often reinforce systemic inequality that limits the rights of women with regard to achieving financial independence. However, policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in education or in the labor market will contribute to narrowing down the gap and to help women obtain improved access to healthcare and health information. The participation of women in the public domain <\/a>is becoming more and more salient, and this will help women to reach parity in the labor market and improve their access to financial resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the increasing participation of women in science and academic research<\/a> will open new paths to address the causes of the gender health gap and provide new evidence to facilitate the design of public policies geared towards improving women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), in 2023, the life expectancy of women in France was 85 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":8408,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[124],"_related_content_author":[8352],"_related_content_category":[1720,1716],"_related_content_folder":[8422],"_excerpt":"It is a documented fact that women outlive men, although recent evidence suggests that they spend their additional years of life in poor health conditions. Therefore, when comparing the number of healthy life years of men and women, the advantage in favor of women with regard to longevity disappears. What are the reasons for this? Is it merely due to biological differences? The social sciences are currently engaged in efforts to address this conundrum. A wide range of societal and cultural factors need to be addressed in order to better understand this disparity: labor market specialization in caring activities, limited access to financial resources and lack of time, a gendered healthcare system and underrepresentation of women in research are among the causes of gender health disparities.","_duration":4,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-8358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":8408,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"wide","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_446089284-1024x681.jpeg","alt":"Hands of a senior citizen holding the cane. Cr\u00e9dit : Adobe Stock","caption":null,"lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image alignwide size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

\"Hands
Hands of a senior citizen holding the cane. Credit : Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
\"Hands
Hands of a senior citizen holding the cane. Credit : Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
\"Hands
Hands of a senior citizen holding the cane. Credit : Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

According to the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), in 2023, the life expectancy of women in France was 85 years, and 80 for men<\/a>. However, according to Eurostat statistics, when comparing the number of healthy years of men and women, this difference narrows down to zero. This outcome was long assumed to be rooted in differences in biological factors, with women being more exposed to chronic diseases than men<\/a>. However, this cause has recently been challenged by studies in the social sciences. Women indeed face disparities in several areas such as the labor market and access to financial resources. These drawbacks also impact their health status and access to healthcare services. A wide range of studies<\/a> now indicate the main factors explaining such differences.\u00a0<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

According to the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), in 2023, the life expectancy of women in France was 85 years, and 80 for men<\/a>. However, according to Eurostat statistics, when comparing the number of healthy years of men and women, this difference narrows down to zero. This outcome was long assumed to be rooted in differences in biological factors, with women being more exposed to chronic diseases than men<\/a>. However, this cause has recently been challenged by studies in the social sciences. Women indeed face disparities in several areas such as the labor market and access to financial resources. These drawbacks also impact their health status and access to healthcare services. A wide range of studies<\/a> now indicate the main factors explaining such differences.\u00a0<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

According to the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), in 2023, the life expectancy of women in France was 85 years, and 80 for men<\/a>. However, according to Eurostat statistics, when comparing the number of healthy years of men and women, this difference narrows down to zero. This outcome was long assumed to be rooted in differences in biological factors, with women being more exposed to chronic diseases than men<\/a>. However, this cause has recently been challenged by studies in the social sciences. Women indeed face disparities in several areas such as the labor market and access to financial resources. These drawbacks also impact their health status and access to healthcare services. A wide range of studies<\/a> now indicate the main factors explaining such differences.\u00a0<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":null,"level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The role of labour market specialization<\/strong><\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

The role of labour market specialization<\/strong><\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The role of labour market specialization<\/strong><\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

An understanding of the role of women in the labor market<\/a> helps to explain why they tend to spend many years later in life with chronic conditions in comparison to men. Indeed, women tend to predominate in jobs involving caring activities such as teaching, nursing and caregiving. These types of jobs require physical tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and providing personal care. These tasks are found to be associated with stress and anxiety, depression, increased emotional burden and, in the long run, musculoskeletal problems and fatigue. Since women are highly represented in these jobs, they are more likely to end up with such health conditions which become chronic in later life. Long-term caregiving, especially without adequate support, is strongly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms<\/a>.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

An understanding of the role of women in the labor market<\/a> helps to explain why they tend to spend many years later in life with chronic conditions in comparison to men. Indeed, women tend to predominate in jobs involving caring activities such as teaching, nursing and caregiving. These types of jobs require physical tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and providing personal care. These tasks are found to be associated with stress and anxiety, depression, increased emotional burden and, in the long run, musculoskeletal problems and fatigue. Since women are highly represented in these jobs, they are more likely to end up with such health conditions which become chronic in later life. Long-term caregiving, especially without adequate support, is strongly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms<\/a>.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

An understanding of the role of women in the labor market<\/a> helps to explain why they tend to spend many years later in life with chronic conditions in comparison to men. Indeed, women tend to predominate in jobs involving caring activities such as teaching, nursing and caregiving. These types of jobs require physical tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and providing personal care. These tasks are found to be associated with stress and anxiety, depression, increased emotional burden and, in the long run, musculoskeletal problems and fatigue. Since women are highly represented in these jobs, they are more likely to end up with such health conditions which become chronic in later life. Long-term caregiving, especially without adequate support, is strongly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":null,"level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Access to financial means and time availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Access to financial means and time availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Access to financial means and time availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Limited financial access is another important factor which prevents women from accessing healthcare and seeking help and advice with regard to their health. In many households, men control financial decisions. This can restrict women\u2019s ability to spend money on their own health needs. When working, women are often the secondary earner in the family, and their resources are limited, which prevent them from accessing specialized consultation or medication. Furthermore, at a global level, women perform most of the caregiving and domestic tasks. This limits their time and ability to seek care for themselves, especially for non-emergency or preventive services. <\/a>They often delay or forgo their own healthcare needs in order to tend to those of children, elders, or spouses. In this way, women might postpone seeking medical advice and end up with more serious conditions, which leads to higher chances of chronic conditions later in life.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Limited financial access is another important factor which prevents women from accessing healthcare and seeking help and advice with regard to their health. In many households, men control financial decisions. This can restrict women\u2019s ability to spend money on their own health needs. When working, women are often the secondary earner in the family, and their resources are limited, which prevent them from accessing specialized consultation or medication. Furthermore, at a global level, women perform most of the caregiving and domestic tasks. This limits their time and ability to seek care for themselves, especially for non-emergency or preventive services. <\/a>They often delay or forgo their own healthcare needs in order to tend to those of children, elders, or spouses. In this way, women might postpone seeking medical advice and end up with more serious conditions, which leads to higher chances of chronic conditions later in life.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Limited financial access is another important factor which prevents women from accessing healthcare and seeking help and advice with regard to their health. In many households, men control financial decisions. This can restrict women\u2019s ability to spend money on their own health needs. When working, women are often the secondary earner in the family, and their resources are limited, which prevent them from accessing specialized consultation or medication. Furthermore, at a global level, women perform most of the caregiving and domestic tasks. This limits their time and ability to seek care for themselves, especially for non-emergency or preventive services. <\/a>They often delay or forgo their own healthcare needs in order to tend to those of children, elders, or spouses. In this way, women might postpone seeking medical advice and end up with more serious conditions, which leads to higher chances of chronic conditions later in life.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":null,"level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Gender-biased healthcare systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Gender-biased healthcare systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Gender-biased healthcare systems<\/strong><\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The healthcare system is also gender-biased<\/a>. As a result of social norms, women are frequently perceived as fragile and overemotional, which results in their health-related complaints being viewed through the prism of deep-rooted stereotypes<\/a>. As a results, women\u2019s symptoms are often interpreted as exaggerated or psychosomatic and thus not taken seriously. Even in high income countries, women receive different treatments to men for the same conditions, and are less frequently screened than men. In the context of cardiovascular disease, a number of studies confirm these disparities. \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

The healthcare system is also gender-biased<\/a>. As a result of social norms, women are frequently perceived as fragile and overemotional, which results in their health-related complaints being viewed through the prism of deep-rooted stereotypes<\/a>. As a results, women\u2019s symptoms are often interpreted as exaggerated or psychosomatic and thus not taken seriously. Even in high income countries, women receive different treatments to men for the same conditions, and are less frequently screened than men. In the context of cardiovascular disease, a number of studies confirm these disparities. \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The healthcare system is also gender-biased<\/a>. As a result of social norms, women are frequently perceived as fragile and overemotional, which results in their health-related complaints being viewed through the prism of deep-rooted stereotypes<\/a>. As a results, women\u2019s symptoms are often interpreted as exaggerated or psychosomatic and thus not taken seriously. Even in high income countries, women receive different treatments to men for the same conditions, and are less frequently screened than men. In the context of cardiovascular disease, a number of studies confirm these disparities. \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Another important aspect of the healthcare context is that currently most doctors are still men. This prevents women from seeking treatment for fear of abuse, maltreatment and harassment. This is particularly evident with regard to reproductive healthcare<\/a>. Social stigma associated with certain conditions such as HIV as well as social isolation are also found to be among the causes of why women avoid seeking treatment at healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Another important aspect of the healthcare context is that currently most doctors are still men. This prevents women from seeking treatment for fear of abuse, maltreatment and harassment. This is particularly evident with regard to reproductive healthcare<\/a>. Social stigma associated with certain conditions such as HIV as well as social isolation are also found to be among the causes of why women avoid seeking treatment at healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Another important aspect of the healthcare context is that currently most doctors are still men. This prevents women from seeking treatment for fear of abuse, maltreatment and harassment. This is particularly evident with regard to reproductive healthcare<\/a>. Social stigma associated with certain conditions such as HIV as well as social isolation are also found to be among the causes of why women avoid seeking treatment at healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":null,"level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Gender-biased health-care research and data collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Gender-biased health-care research and data collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Gender-biased health-care research and data collection<\/strong><\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

In clinical research, women have long been excluded from trials, although ostensibly these were intended to address key health issues affecting them. As a result, such research has provided evidence mainly based on the male population, while treatments (such as drugs and medication) were then administered to both genders. In this way, women and minorities have been exposed to harm by the final product. In the case of drugs tests, evidence suggests that the majority are conducted on the male population, which could provide a possible explanation as to why women have often stronger reactions to medications than men. Overall, collection of data on women has been limited in several areas including health.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

In clinical research, women have long been excluded from trials, although ostensibly these were intended to address key health issues affecting them. As a result, such research has provided evidence mainly based on the male population, while treatments (such as drugs and medication) were then administered to both genders. In this way, women and minorities have been exposed to harm by the final product. In the case of drugs tests, evidence suggests that the majority are conducted on the male population, which could provide a possible explanation as to why women have often stronger reactions to medications than men. Overall, collection of data on women has been limited in several areas including health.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

In clinical research, women have long been excluded from trials, although ostensibly these were intended to address key health issues affecting them. As a result, such research has provided evidence mainly based on the male population, while treatments (such as drugs and medication) were then administered to both genders. In this way, women and minorities have been exposed to harm by the final product. In the case of drugs tests, evidence suggests that the majority are conducted on the male population, which could provide a possible explanation as to why women have often stronger reactions to medications than men. Overall, collection of data on women has been limited in several areas including health.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|red"}}}},"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":null,"level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color has-link-color","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Research for health equality<\/strong><\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Research for health equality<\/strong><\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Research for health equality<\/strong><\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Research on gender health disparities is on the increase, yet still affected by key limitations, as data on women\u2019s health and conditions have only recently been extensively collected. Indeed, reducing the gender gap is at the core of societal goals. However, which precise factors are able to explain the multiple gender differences in health is an open question. Since norms, institutional and cultural factors are intertwined, a host of research questions remain open to exploration. <\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Research on gender health disparities is on the increase, yet still affected by key limitations, as data on women\u2019s health and conditions have only recently been extensively collected. Indeed, reducing the gender gap is at the core of societal goals. However, which precise factors are able to explain the multiple gender differences in health is an open question. Since norms, institutional and cultural factors are intertwined, a host of research questions remain open to exploration. <\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Research on gender health disparities is on the increase, yet still affected by key limitations, as data on women\u2019s health and conditions have only recently been extensively collected. Indeed, reducing the gender gap is at the core of societal goals. However, which precise factors are able to explain the multiple gender differences in health is an open question. Since norms, institutional and cultural factors are intertwined, a host of research questions remain open to exploration. <\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Moreover, gender norms often reinforce systemic inequality that limits the rights of women with regard to achieving financial independence. However, policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in education or in the labor market will contribute to narrowing down the gap and to help women obtain improved access to healthcare and health information. The participation of women in the public domain <\/a>is becoming more and more salient, and this will help women to reach parity in the labor market and improve their access to financial resources.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Moreover, gender norms often reinforce systemic inequality that limits the rights of women with regard to achieving financial independence. However, policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in education or in the labor market will contribute to narrowing down the gap and to help women obtain improved access to healthcare and health information. The participation of women in the public domain <\/a>is becoming more and more salient, and this will help women to reach parity in the labor market and improve their access to financial resources.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Moreover, gender norms often reinforce systemic inequality that limits the rights of women with regard to achieving financial independence. However, policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in education or in the labor market will contribute to narrowing down the gap and to help women obtain improved access to healthcare and health information. The participation of women in the public domain <\/a>is becoming more and more salient, and this will help women to reach parity in the labor market and improve their access to financial resources.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Finally, the increasing participation of women in science and academic research<\/a> will open new paths to address the causes of the gender health gap and provide new evidence to facilitate the design of public policies geared towards improving women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Finally, the increasing participation of women in science and academic research<\/a> will open new paths to address the causes of the gender health gap and provide new evidence to facilitate the design of public policies geared towards improving women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Finally, the increasing participation of women in science and academic research<\/a> will open new paths to address the causes of the gender health gap and provide new evidence to facilitate the design of public policies geared towards improving women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":null,"dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"The Gender health gap: why do women live longer than men, but spend more years in worse health conditions?"},"media":{"img":"\"Mains","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_446089284.jpeg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/the-gender-health-gap-why-women-live-longer-than-men-but-spend-more-years-in-worse-health-conditions\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Elena Bassoli","url":"\/en\/authors\/elena-bassoli\/","id":"8352","media":"\"Elena","slug":"elena-bassoli"}],"subject":[{"title":"Economics & Society","url":"\/en\/subjects\/economics-society\/","id":"124","media":"\"\"","slug":"economics-society"}],"category":[{"title":"Article collection","url":"\/en\/articles\/category\/dossier\/","id":"1720","media":"","slug":"dossier","_related_post_type":"folder"},{"title":"Articles","url":"\/en\/articles\/category\/articles\/","id":"1716","media":"","slug":"articles","_related_post_type":""}],"folder":[{"title":"Exploring gender issues","url":"\/en\/folders\/exploring-gender-issues\/","id":"8422","media":"\"Cr\u00e9dit","slug":"exploring-gender-issues"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/lecart-de-sante-entre-les-sexes-pourquoi-les-femmes-vivent-plus-longtemps-que-les-hommes-mais-passent-plus-dannees-en-mauvaise-sante\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"4","custom_excerpt":"It is a documented fact that women outlive men, although recent evidence suggests that they spend their additional years of life in poor health conditions. Therefore, when comparing the number of healthy life years of men and women, the advantage in favor of women with regard to longevity disappears. What are the reasons for this? Is it merely due to biological differences? The social sciences are currently engaged in efforts to address this conundrum. A wide range of societal and cultural factors need to be addressed in order to better understand this disparity: labor market specialization in caring activities, limited access to financial resources and lack of time, a gendered healthcare system and underrepresentation of women in research are among the causes of gender health disparities.","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8358"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8467,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8358\/revisions\/8467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=8358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}