Women's Health Has Worsened, While Men's Improved

The results show that gender equality efforts, and especially the promotion of equal rights to health for men and women, need significant revisions.

Gender inequality exists globally, and only four out of over 135 nations have reportedly achieved gender equality status: Costa Rica, Cuba, Sweden, and Norway. A study has now showed that since 1990, women's health has significantly worsened but the health of men has improved, and gender inequality may be to blame.

Researchers at Umeå University and Region Norrbotten in Sweden showed that in 1990, 8.5 percent of women self-rated their health as being worse than peers in their own age group. At 2014, this trend had increased to 20 per cent of women. In contrast, a bigger part of the men self-rated their health as better at the end of the study period compared to the start.

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‘Two conflicting but coinciding norm systems in society - equality and traditional gender roles - is where women must fulfil expectation and "manage everything".’

A generally worsened self-rated health among young people most likely suggests increased risk of illness both in the short and long term. According to the study authors, possible causes for this negative health trend among young women may be:

Tougher working conditions in female-dominated professions such as in healthcare.

Increased risk of burnouts (stress-related exhaustion disorder) and stress of conscience.

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Lack of equality in one's private life.

The study was published in PLOS One.