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Medieval Lifespans: Gender, Culture, and Survival
Study of medieval London remains reveals that women's longer lifespans today might be a recent phenomenon, resulting from shifts in cultural factors rather than inherent biological advantages.
Spanish
Spain
HealthGender IssuesHistoryGenderMortalityBiology
University Of Colorado BoulderJames Madison UniversityScience AdvancesMola (Getty Images)
Sharon DewitteSamantha Yaussy
- What methods were used in this study to assess health and mortality?
- Biomarkers such as hipoplasia, bone lesions, and femur length were examined in the remains of 1658 individuals buried in London during the 11th to 15th centuries. The study found no significant difference in fragility and resilience indices between men and women.
- What is the 'paradox of morbidity and mortality' discussed in this article?
- The researchers suggest that the observed disparity in lifespan between men and women in current societies is a recent phenomenon, likely due to reduced cultural marginalization of women. Cultural practices in medieval London may have minimized any inherent biological female advantages in survival.
- What is the main finding of the study regarding mortality rates between men and women in medieval London?
- In modern societies, women tend to live about five years longer than men, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists for years. This longer lifespan exists even in harsh conditions, where girls typically fare better than boys.
- What alternative explanation is suggested for the findings, regarding the possibility of skewed sample data?
- The study hypothesizes that in medieval London, cultural factors that favored men negated any biological advantages women might have possessed, leading to similar mortality rates for both sexes. Another possibility is that weaker males died in childhood, skewing the adult sample.
- What factors, according to the study, might explain the difference in lifespan between men and women in modern versus medieval times?
- A study of medieval Londoners' bones revealed that men and women had similar morbidity and mortality rates, suggesting that cultural factors favoring men in a patriarchal society may have overridden inherent biological advantages for women.