White Women in U.S. Live 10 Years Longer than Black Men

[The Straight Story]

White Women in U.S. Live 10 Years Longer than Black Men

Americans are living longer than ever, according to new figures from the federal government. The National Vital Statistics System determined that the average life expectancy at birth in 2009 was 78.2 years, the highest rate on record.

However, there is a significant variation in life expectancy depending on sex and race. A white female baby born in 2009 could expect to live 80.9 years, whereas a black male baby’s life expectancy is exactly 10 years less…70.9. The figure for black female babies is 77.4 and for white male babies 76.2.

Numerous factors played into the longer life spans, such as drops in the death rate for heart diseases (-3.7%), cancer (-1.1%), Alzheimer’s (-4.1%), diabetes (-4.1%) and homicide (-6.8%). Infant mortality was also down by 2.6%, and even accidental deaths dropped by 4.1%. The only major cause of death that rose in 2009 was suicide (0.9%).

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/White_Women_in_US_Live_10_Years_Longer_than_Black_Men_110328

[RegieRocker]

1. Don't they live longer than white men also?

[The Straight Story]

3. Yeah, but that is only because they nag us to death (nt)

[RegieRocker]

7. I take it you're married!

:rofl:

[The Straight Story]

2. wrong place

[hlthe2b]

4. Misleading comparison...

and a statistically invalid one. Given women live longer than men, the appropriate comparison is between white men and black men-- which is still a troublesome difference, but one that could theoretically represent important and valid correlates, including access to health care differential.

[AngryAmish]

6. In what way is the comparison statistically invalid?

Are you saying there is not a gap of ten years?

There are several questions to ask. Is it biologically determined that women, on average, live linger than men? Why? Fewer women die in accidents, both on the job and off. Fewer suicides. Women use health care more often. Fewer women abuse substances. Women commit way fewer crimes and serve less time in prison than men.

None of these questions invalidate the data in any way.

[hlthe2b]

8. It implies there are correlations that are not confounded by gender

which is NOT the case. Estrogen's protective effects against cardiovascular disease are a significant confounding effect on expected lifespan between women and men. So, yes, it IS biologically determined that women, on average, live longer than men.

[ensho]

5. being used as slave labor in prisons shortens black men's years

of living

[WatsonT]

9. It would have been more relevent (but less sensationalist)

to say that black men live on average 5.3 years less than white men, and black women live on average 3.5 years less than white women.

Unless you live in a culture were women are killed out of hand for no reason then they are going to outlive men. That's a given.

Also that report only seems to look at black vs white as if there were no such thing as interracial individuals. Also it leaves out asians and hispanics entirely, which is a not inconsiderable population.