Sorry guys. It’s in our genes.

[gwand]

Tracing the evolutionary roots of why women live longer than men

Around the world, women on average live longer than men. This striking pattern holds true across nearly all countries and historical time periods. Although the gap between the sexes has narrowed in some countries due to medical advances and improved living conditions, new research now provides...

phys.org

 

[emeraldking]

This is why you women shouldn't be too hard on us... We are short lived... So, be gentle...!

 

[Innesfan]

My maternal grandmother was one of 15. 8 girls, 7 boys. The 8 ladies lived to 89 - 103, with most in the upper 90s. My grandmother was 99. The 7 guys made it only from 46-72, most in their young 60s. As one cousin was given to say, "The men all died young. They had to."

BTW, several of my aunts smoked, drank and probably had more chicken fat in their veins than red corpuscles.

 

[GaryE]

I've decided the fact I only worked factories for a couple of years gives me a better chance than the other men in my family. One handicapped Uncle who was unable to work lived into his later eighties. But the others all died with work related diseases, helped along by smoking. Having spent most of my working life as a teacher and not having died from paper cuts, maybe...

The women in the family have outlived the men by a solid margin. It isn't a competition - I want everyone to live long healthy lives. But I'm glad I escaped the steel factory. Maybe I escaped and got their genes, although not their chromosome combo.

Biologically, guys, we're pretty disposable. A lot of us here have reached the age where we're ornamental.

 

[MaloK]

This is why you women shouldn't be too hard on us... We are short lived... So, be gentle...!

Aren't they the reason why we are short lived.

 

[fishorama]

That was interesting, gwand.

In fish I see males are almost always the last to die given a same age to start with. Reproduction can take a female toll. But defending territories isn't easy for males either.

But I agree with GaryE too about people (men) choosing hazardous jobs to support their families. Some diseases are sex or environment linked too. My father, his sister & a close aged aunt died early; the older aunts lived longer, except for his mother & mine working father that died from TB very early.

Although I'd rather not be the last 1 standing, I'm slightly older than my husband. He has more family history of serious diseases. But mine has a bit of dementia...I hope that's not in my genetic cards. Longevity is not always a plus compared to quality of life however short.

 

[GaryE]

It's a pretty set pattern for our species, and seems genetic. We can stretch it with lifestyle as I hope I have with how I worked, but my sisters will likely outlive me. I know I'll have a longer life than an unfortunate woman working in a sweatshop or tech parts company - context is always there. A lot has to do with the social systems we live in. I live in a rich country with a statistically longer lifespan than the countries around us. Stats give me 3 years more than a US man and 13 more than a Russian, though I'm equal with Europe. But I statistically will get almost as much time as a US woman, and a lot more than a Russian one. Stats are just averages, and this is a mental game, but it is interesting.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Hm, I always thought it was because of the male penchant for explosives. And Gary, if I'm ornamental, someone should be getting their money back.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

A lot of us here have reached the age where we're ornamental.

Yean, they call us Silver Foxes.

 

[anewbie]

It is clear why woman live longer; they make the guys do all the dangerous work like carry in the grocery.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

It is clear why woman live longer; they make the guys do all the dangerous work like carry in the grocery.