More Men Outliving Women?

	posted by Scott on Wednesday December 26, @06:22AM from the men's-health dept.
	Tony submitted this CNN article and writes "Before anyone gets excited that men might be catching up to women should read this article. Widowers 65+ number about 2 million but widows number 8.5 million. A huge disparity still exists. This article discusses a few reasons why being the surviving spouse is more difficult for men. And it has a heart touching story of a widower."

	Source: CNN Title: Census: More men outliving their wives Author: Unknown (AP article) Date: December 16, 2001

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good article (Score:1) by Tom on Wednesday December 26, @11:32AM EST (#1) (User #192 Info) Good article. It did imply that men should grieve like women when it said: "In addition to that, we know that men ... have been socialized to be independent and not turn to other people for help. The men who are widowers today are very unaccustomed to and probably quite uncomfortable with seeking help, and might even shun help that is offered." Well er ah, it's more than men having been socialized. A man's body is different in many ways and this too impacts how a man chooses to deal with his grief. Men tend to view the world through a hierarchical lens and this creates modes of healing that are distinctly at variance with the accepted female modes of "help." This traditional "help" is great for people who tend to a relational viewpoint of the world but goes against the grain of most men. Simply put, the majority of psychotherapeutic interventions are female friendly due to the high predominance of women choosing to go to therapy. Therapists have by necessity needed to learn how to help women since they are the ones that show up.... Just look at what this man is doing to heal himself. He is sending the cards "in loving memory" of his wife, he is helping others also in memory of his wife. He is more inclined to take action and DO things in honor of rather than sit and talk about the past. I could go on and on...but I won't! One more thing....a man's pain is TABOO in our culture. This creates yet one more burden for men who are healing from trauma. People simply can't deal with a man in pain, it scares them and most will run. Others turn and make fun of him behind his back. When we start developing "help" that is male friendly men will be happy to seek "help."

difference in life span (Score:1) by garypc on Thursday January 10, @04:50PM EST (#2) (User #608 Info) I am new to this group, so this point may have been raised many times before. I am a medical student, and so I see what aspects of health care are emphasized in current education. One issue that is NEVER addressed is the difference in lifespans between men and women. It is my understanding that prior to 1900, men outlived women. I think the increase in the lifespan of women (through, for example, better obstretrical care). But I think it is a shame that more emphasis isn't placed on those issues related to the relatively shorter life span of men. Gary

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