Shocking discovery: Men are actually the 'weaker sex'!
Women are often thought of as the weaker sex, but a recent study shows they possess greater resilience in the face of disasters.
Who is actually stronger, women or men? Photo: Alamy
Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, once compared strong women to tea bags, because only when steeped in hot water do people realize how strong those tea bags truly are.
If she were still alive, the late First Lady of the United States would surely wholeheartedly agree with the recent study that women are not the weaker sex.
Strongly overcoming disasters
According to the websiteThe Telegraph(UK), research conducted by scientists from the University of Southern Denmark (Denmark).
They studied a great deal of historical material regarding the mortality rates between men and women during devastating famines and epidemics in the past, as well as the endurance of slaves in ancient times.
During each crisis, scientists have found that women can live significantly longer than men, even when living conditions are extremely difficult for both sexes.
For example, during the Irish potato famine that devastated the country in 1845-1849, the average life expectancy for both sexes was below 38 years. But at its worst, the average life expectancy for men plummeted to a staggering 18.17, while for women it was 22.4.
Similarly, women outlived men by many years during the Swedish famine of 1772-1773 and the Ukrainian crop failure of 1933.
Women also lived about two years longer than men during the devastating measles epidemic in Iceland in the 19th century.
"The crises we chose to study were truly catastrophic. But in those crises, women's life expectancy was consistently higher than men's," said Dr. Virginia Zarulli, an epidemiologist and lead researcher.
The only exception was the Trinidad slave trade from Africa to the Americas in the early 19th century. During that period, men lived longer, which the research team attributed to the fact that traffickers generally preferred male slaves as they were considered more valuable.
Statistically, the research team found a significant difference in infant mortality rates between the sexes during disasters such as epidemics or famines. Specifically, girls had a significantly higher survival rate after birth compared to boys.
In addition, the number of elderly women is significantly higher than that of men.
Why are women "stronger" than men?
Researchers have concluded that, fundamentally from a biological standpoint, women are more resilient than men.
This may be due to the different sex hormones in the two sexes. Specifically, estrogen helps lower blood cholesterol, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis in women... Meanwhile, testosterone is a potential cause of many dangerous diseases, as well as harming the immune system.
From an evolutionary perspective, experts believe that women have a better immune system because they are "trained" through nine months of childbirth, while men are not.
Furthermore, socio-cultural differences between the two genders also contribute to the formation of female "strength."
"Men tend to be more adventurous than women in many activities and jobs, which is one of the reasons contributing to the difference in life expectancy between the two sexes," said Dr. Zarulli.
"Today, men often smoke, drink alcohol, use many stimulants, and have irregular eating habits, leading to a high risk of respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cirrhosis, and many other life-threatening conditions," added Dr. Zarulli.
Professor Max Headley, a physiologist at the University of Bristol (UK), added: "Women generally have more subcutaneous fat and a lower metabolic rate. Therefore, women can sustain their energy longer, increasing their endurance in the event of famine."
Today, in many places, women generally live longer than men. Dr. Zarulli's research has provided another piece of the puzzle regarding the differences between men and women in terms of longevity.
