Matriliny reverses gender disparities in inflammation and hypertension among the Mosuo of China – DocWire News

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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Nov 16:202014403. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2014403117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Women experience higher morbidity than men, despite living longer. This is often attributed to biological differences between the sexes; however, the majority of societies in which these disparities are observed exhibit gender norms that favor men. We tested the hypothesis that female-biased gender norms ameliorate gender disparities in health by comparing gender differences in inflammation and hypertension among the matrilineal and patrilineal Mosuo of China. Widely reported gender disparities in health were reversed among matrilineal Mosuo compared with patrilineal Mosuo, due to substantial improvements in womens health, with no concomitant detrimental effects on men. These findings offer evidence that gender norms limiting womens autonomy and biasing inheritance toward men adversely affect the health of women, increasing womens risk for chronic diseases with tremendous global health impact.

PMID:33199598 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2014403117

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Matriliny reverses gender disparities in inflammation and hypertension among the Mosuo of China - DocWire News