Research on Ageing, Health and Gender: A Long and Winding Road

Abstract

This contribution is a reply to Dr. Månsdotter’s comments on our discussion paper ‘Health and well-being in old age: the pertinence of a gender mainstreaming approach in research’ published in Gerontology [Gerontology 2010 (in press)]. Even though the comments are interesting and comprehensible, they cannot be left unanswered, this primarily because they are based on weak empirical evidence. (1) It is broadly uncontested that gender is not static. However, the conclusion that the more egalitarian division of parental duties can be viewed as an indicator for reduction of the gender gap in longevity and health is highly speculative. There is not enough empirical evidence to substantiate this position. (2) The ‘caring hypothesis’ proposed by Månsdotter, which holds that caring fathers develop less risky lifestyles and increased worries, is a possible, but not a sufficient explanation for gender convergence of physical and psychological health in future generations. Such a convergence seems to be heavily co-determined by the changing lifestyles of women. (3) From a lifespan developmental perspective, androgyny does not mean gender equality, but a necessary openness of an individual for the positive traits of the opposing gender role, an essential trait for successful ageing. (4) Månsdotter’s doubts concerning the implementation of gender mainstreaming in gerontological research and practice because of society’s limited resources are not comprehensible. Exactly because economical resources are limited, and exactly because men and women have different resources and disadvantages due to their specific bio-psycho-social realities, the most efficient way of dealing with the gender gaps in health is with a differentialapproach. (5) The concluding recommendation of Månsdotter for more openness as a scientific position regarding the impact of gender roles on human health and well-being stands in contrast to her claim for normative standpoints and prioritization of either women or men in health promotion. We certainly need openness as a scientific position, but what we urgently need are good theoretical frameworks and more interdisciplinary and longitudinal approaches, which help to overcome the thin empirical base we have. This is a challenge and a chance for future research.

Relevance of Gender and Social Support in Self-Rated Health and Life Satisfaction in Elderly Spanish People

“…It also makes clear how the exclusive identification with the characteristics associated with the same gender, such as independence, dominance, self-sufficiency, or individualism in the case of men, and sensitivity to the needs of others, sympathy, kindness, or warmth in the case of women, is a limitation for health and well-being. The results provided converge and support the literature that states that openness to positive traits of the opposite gender role is an essential trait for successful ageing [66]. Moreover, the research conducted with the general population has found that people whose self-concept includes both instrumental and expressive characteristics report greater self-rated health and well-being [19,22,23,71].…”

“…Although in recent decades the social determinants of health have received considerable attention in the field of public health [60], few studies had focused on the elderly and fewer had approached the relevance of gender for successful ageing [65,66]. Although there is a growing social awareness of the phenomenon called ‘feminization of old age’ “the topic and its psychosocial and health-related consequences have not attracted the scientific interest that they deserve” ([65], p. 208).…”

Gender and aging: Perspectives from clinical geropsychology.

“…Because women are at risk for greater morbidity or frailty because of their longer life expectancy, the process of aging and the delivery of health care to older adults are becoming increasingly feminized (Davidson et al, 2011;Månsdotter, 2010;Perrig-Chiello & Hutchison, 2010a, 2010b. This feminization of the late-life years brings with it the urgent need to recognize the pressing health issues of older women and to meet their specific health care needs.…”