Gender and Health Professor Julie Byles Research Centre for
Gender, Health and Ageing The University of Newcastle
Slide 2
The average older person - adjusting for gender broken down by
age and sex constraints of categorisation Ageing as womens business
- single gender views* Ageing and diversity heteronormative/
cisnormative assumptions
Slide 3
Gender and health Women have longer life expectancy, more
disability, longer healthy life expectancy, more chronic conditions
Biological basis for some differences Impacts of childbearing iron
stores, bone density, prolapse, incontinence Health seeking and
bias in health care Gender norms expectations and social status
Gender roles family, domestic, occupational Gender relations
unequal power and access to resources Dynamic effects and
interactions varying across cultures and generations
Slide 4
Women more likely to report bad or very bad health
Slide 5
Gender and health Women have longer life expectancy, more
disability, longer healthy life expectancy, more chronic conditions
Biological basis for some differences Impacts of childbearing iron
stores, bone density, prolapse, incontinence Health seeking and
bias in health care Gender norms expectations and social status
Gender roles family, domestic, occupational Gender relations
unequal power and access to resources Dynamic effects and
interactions varying across cultures and generations
Slide 6
Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens Health
Slide 7
Age and health-related quality of life
Slide 8
Australian Longitudinal Study on Womens Health
Slide 9
Changes in Physical Function scores 1996- 2013
Slide 10
Different patterns of change in physical function
Slide 11
What can we learn from the women? Consistently Good Health not
without physical problems Poor health Setbacks- likely to improve.
More pessimistic about getting over events and illnesses. Vitality
Active and fit Slowing down Some slowing down with
ageing.everything is gradually wearing out Participation _Active
Passive Dancing, gardening, volunteer workreading Mobility and
physical function Can do Cant do Adapt to increasing difficulties
and limitations to physical function. Generally still able to drive
Describe what they cant do (rather than what they can do or hope to
do) Talked about not being able to drive Generally satisfied with
life. hope grateful Lucky Fortunate Content Pathetic