Where there's gender equality, people tend to live longer
男女平等を目指す国の方が、女性も男性も長生きする可能性が高いことが、この種の研究では初めてと思われる新しい世界的な研究によって明らかになりました。この研究は、国際女性デーを前に、今週、PLOS Global Public Healthに掲載されました。(English) Both women and men are likely to live longer when a country strides towards gender equality, according to a new global study that authors believe to be the first of its kind. This week, the study was published in PLOS Global Public Health, just ahead of International Women's Day.
Where there's gender equality, people tend to live longer.
//Summary - Level-C1//
A new global study shows that increased gender equality in education, politics, and the workforce is associated with longer life expectancy for both men and women. The study found that education has the most vital link to longevity, with significant disparities persisting in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The study highlights the need for policy reforms such as parental leave and flexible hours but acknowledges the challenges of implementing gender-sensitive policies. The study is crucial, as the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the global gender gap.
//Summary - Level-C2//
A global study has found that greater gender equality in education, politics, and the workforce is associated with longer life expectancy for both men and women. The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health, identified education as having the most vital link to longevity, with significant disparities persisting in some regions. The authors called for policy reforms such as parental leave and flexible hours but acknowledged the challenges of implementing such measures. The study comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the global gender gap.
A)
Both women and men are likely to live longer when a country strides towards gender equality, according to a new global study that authors believe to be the first of its kind.
This week, the study was published in PLOS Global Public Health, just ahead of International Women's Day. It adds to a growing body of research showing that advances in women's rights benefit everyone.
"This International Women's Day, let's not forget that the evidence demonstrates that enhancing women's representation across multiple sectors contributes to wealthier and, hence, healthier societies for all," lead author Cat Pinho-Gomes, said in a release.
Researchers estimated gender equality in 156 countries using a "modified global gender gap index," based on an index developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) between 2010 and 2021. They believe this is the first study to examine the link between that index and the gender gap in life expectancy.
"Globally, greater gender equality is associated with longer [life expectancy] for both women and men and a widening of the gender gap in [life expectancy]," they conclude.
Overall, in 2021, each 10% increase in the modified gender gap index was associated with a 4.3-month increase in women's life expectancy and a 3.5-month increase for men, leading to an eight-month wider gender gap.
That suggests that gender equality may initially widen the gender gap in life expectancy, researchers say, "as the benefits of greater gender equality mainly benefit women's lives and health." But the ripple effect would eventually benefit men's longevity too.
"As countries progress along the continuum of gender equality, the benefits of increased participation of women in society extend to men, thus leading to a larger increase in men's [life expectancy] and a narrowing of the gender gap in [life expectancy]," they write.
B)
Equality in education has the most vital link to longevity
"Many factors that determine how long you will live — like working and living conditions, exposure to pollution, access to health care, education, income, and social support — are layered with gender differences around the world," Pinho-Gomes explains.
The researchers focused on the political, economic and educational aspects of gender equality and found that the latter had the strongest association with increased life expectancy.
The study notes that while more than two-thirds of countries reached gender parity in primary education enrollment in 2020, significant disparities persist in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
Girls' access to education has long-term implications for their well-being and community, including family planning and poverty reduction. And, Pinho-Gomes says, it's not only important in developing countries.
"Even high-income countries — where substantial progress has been made to address gender inequalities in recent years — investing in gender equality may still benefit life expectancy, particularly for men," she says.
C)
Advances in politics and the workforce are needed too
The study also highlights some of the economic challenges women face, namely the gender pay gap and their lower workforce participation rates.
It says "unleashing the full potential of half the world's population" will require changing social norms and implementing "gender-sensitive policies" like adequate parental leave and flexible hours.
Those policy reforms are easier said than done, the study acknowledges. Even when women are represented in large numbers in political institutions, it says, they often face glass ceilings and other challenges that limit their power to change.
United Nations data show that women worldwide are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making, from executive to local government positions. At the current rate, gender equality in the highest ranks of power will not be reached for another 130 years, it says.
Just 31 countries have female heads of state and government as of January 2023 — before the resignation announcements of prominent women leaders like New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern and Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon.
"As we've seen from the recent resignations of high-profile female politicians, women still experience significant challenges in this field, including discrimination, balancing private, family and political life, gaining support from political parties, and securing campaign funding," Pinho-Gomes says.
D)
The findings can help set policy priorities at a crucial time
While the authors say their study is vital — mainly because of the reliability of the WEF data and a large number of countries included — they also acknowledge several limitations.
For one, data were not available for all of the countries in the world, so the associations observed in some regions might look different if all of their neighbours were included. In addition, the index they used is not exhaustive, so including additional indicators of gender inequality could potentially yield different results.
They also say it's possible that the associations they observed between gender equality and life expectancy could be explained by other factors, like socioeconomic development and sociocultural norms.
And the issue has taken on a new urgency: The WEF estimates that the time it will take to close the global gender gap increased by an entire generation — from 99.5 years to 135.6 years — as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, in the words of the researchers, had "a gendered impact across multiple domains of life."
Where there's gender equality, people tend to live longer - March 8, 2023
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/08/1161902940/international-womens-day-gender-equality-life-expectancy
Women's Suffrage: How Women Fought for the Right to Vote
Discussion
A) Before reading this article, what did you know about the history of women's suffrage?
-> Yes, I knew. Last year I translated an article about women's suffrage. I remember being surprised by some radical protests, such as hunger strikes.
History of suffragettes - the campaign for women's suffrage in the UK
https://takorine2.webnode.jp/l/history-of-suffragettes/
B) Do you find it surprising that voter turnout is often higher among women?
-> Yes, it was a little surprising.
In Japan, the voter turnout of older adults is high, but that of young people is low. I don't know the difference between men and women, but I think there are more women because women live longer than men.
C) Which country has the worst record on women's rights?
-> I don't know if it's the worst, but I heard that women were not allowed to drive in Afghanistan until recently. Women seem to be able to go out only with a man.
It is also to protect women, but I think it is also hindering independent women's rights.
D) How can women's rights be improved in your country?
-> To have a female Prime Minister. Or it could be a female president or director.
It is also essential to increase the female lawmakers' and executives' ratios to 50%.
The ratio of medical and science and technology colleges will also increase to 50%.
We will reduce overtime work not only for women but also for all people, including men.
Equal pay, maternity leave and all rights and obligations.
E)Can you think of other rights people have fought for throughout history?
-> Ethnic minorities, such as the Ainu people in Hokkaido, people suffering from pollution-related diseases such as Minamata disease, women, LBGT people, and minority people must continually fight for their rights and win.
Further Discussion
F) Has your country ever had a female leader? Why do you think that is?
-> The governor of Tokyo is a woman named Yuriko Koike.
She was a very good newscaster.
And we have navigated this COVID-19 crisis very well.
She is rigid and flexible and can captivate people with her smile and persuasive speaking style.
G) Who are the most inspiring women you know?
-> I am interested in European queens such as Queen Elizabeth, Queen Maria Theresa, Queen Marie Antoinette and Ekaterina II Alekseevna.
They are intelligent, beautiful, rigid and flexible. Yet, even in a male-dominated society, they lived a healthy life.
Literary talents such as Murasaki Shikibu and Ono no Komachi existed in Japan. The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book have become test questions in Japanese schools, cartoons, and bestsellers.
H) Would you have liked to meet any women from history?
-> Ekaterina II Alekseevna. Despite being German, she went to great lengths to become the wife of the Russian king. Her tireless efforts in the Russian language, culture, art, horseback riding and war are admirable. He also had many romantic lovers and led a dramatic life.
Екатерина II Алексеевна
I) What stereotypes about women do you think still exist in society today?
-> Yes, I think so. Especially the stereotypes of the elderly will not disappear.
Women should stay home, cook, wash, and care for the children.
However, the younger generation is different.
They are more equal and flexible.
J) A feminist recognizes women's and men's equality and full humanity. — Gloria Steinem. What are your thoughts on this statement?
-> I agree. There is also inequality among men.
All people have equal human rights, not only women but also LBGT people, people with disabilities, the elderly and children.
You don't need a lot of money. You don't need a lot of power, and you don't need a monopoly on land and resources.
However, it is essential for everyone to feel happy and fulfilled every day, respect and love each other, and live a fulfilling life.