Latest FSO gender survey reveals stark differences between genders
As a new publication by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) confirms, gender is not just a matter of biology, it is also shaped by gender roles and social inequalities – a key topic in NRP 83 projects.
As the latest Swiss Gender Survey (2022), conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), confirms, gender is not defined purely by biological differences – it is also heavily influenced by role models in society and social inequalities.
The survey reveals that significantly more women (55%) report chronic illnesses than men (44%), for example, with care work and social burdens having an impact.
Young women aged 15 to 24 are twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression as young men – the influence of gender-specific social factors, in particular psychosocial stress, as well as higher levels of sexual hormones.
Education also impacts health, with women who have not undertaken post compulsory education three times more at risk of obesity compared to women who have completed tertiary education. The survey also shows that women eat more healthily, but are less satisfied with their bodies. Men, on the other hand, do more sport, but seek out help less often.
What these results shows is that gender is linked to both biological and socio-cultural factors. This is where NRP 83 “Gender Medicine and Health” comes in, with research which is making healthcare more equitable and more targeted by accounting for both dimensions – sex and gender.