Living to our full potential: Reassessing global sex inequalities in life expectancy

Ann M. Weber; Gary L. Darmstadt

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004987

March 17, 2026PLoS MedicineOpen Access

Living to our full potential: Reassessing global sex inequalities in life expectancy

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Key Points

Assess how global sex inequalities in life expectancy relate to social and structural constraints rather than biological factors.
Benchmarking life expectancy against achievable standards.
Analyzing variations by age, place, and time.
Reframing inequality as unrealized potential.
Identified shifts in sex disadvantage across different ages.
Highlighted the role of social and structural factors in life expectancy disparities.
Reframed the understanding of inequality beyond biological differences.

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Implication

Benchmarking life expectancy reveals shifting sex disparities according to social and structural factors.

Abstract

Benchmarking life expectancy against what is achievable reveals how sex disadvantage shifts by age, place, and time, and reframes inequality as unrealized potential due to social and structural constraints rather than differences in biology.

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Cite This Study

Weber et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69be34f26e48c4981c6730f7 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004987

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Living to our full potential: Reassessing global sex inequalities in life expectancy

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Living to our full potential: Reassessing global sex inequalities in life expectancy

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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