Citation

King TL, Kavanagh A, Scovelle AJ, Milner A. Health Promot. Int. 2020; 35(1): 27-41.

Affiliation

Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/heapro/day093

PMID

31916577

Abstract

This systematic review sought to evaluate the impact of gender equality on the health of both women and men in high-income countries. A range of health outcomes arose across the 48 studies included. Gender equality was measured in various ways, including employment characteristics, political representation, access to services, and with standard indicators (such as the Global Gender Gap Index and the Gender Empowerment Measure). The effects of gender equality varied depending on the health outcome examined, and the context in which gender equality was examined (i.e. employment or domestic domain). Overall, evidence suggests that greater gender equality has a mostly positive effect on the health of males and females. We found utility in the convergence model, which postulates that gender equality will be associated with a convergence in the health outcomes of men and women, but unless there is encouragement and support for men to assume more non-traditional roles, further health gains will be stymied.

© The Author (2018). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Language: en

Keywords

gender; gender equality; health