Männer sterben früher, Frauen leiden mehr: Vom epidemiologischen Paradox zum Genderbewusstsein in der Psychotherapie

On average men live for several years less than women. This is true in all cultures. Because of the universality of the phenomenon, for a long time biological or genetic causes were taken for granted. It was not until the quasi-experimental analyses of the so-called monastic and lifestyle studies that socialization conditions were proven to be a major cause of gender-specific mortality. Gender was thus decomposed from a dimorphism based on genotypic and phenotypic characteristics to a more continuous construct based on the interaction between “sex” and “gender,” i.e., the biological foundations and identity formation. The poles “masculine” and “feminine” are characterized by a changing concept of the gender role in relation to the dimensions of society, sexuality, personality and physique over time from traditional to modern. Even if the polarity itself may be dissolving today due to the increasing importance of transidentity and re-evaluation of disorders of gender development, the traditional gender roles are still effective, not only in terms of mortality but also considering gender-specific morbidity (burden of disease). Reflecting on the meaning of gender is not only relevant as a social discourse but can also make an important contribution to acting in the psychotherapeutic relationship from being a man-woman or non-binary person to acting in a gender-sensitive way with the requirements of a gender-attentive awareness.