I believe that women are more likely than men to be a widow by somewhat more than that.
I’d just like to add that I would give just about anything to be able to get pregnant, carry a child, and give birth, and dress shopping is one of my favorite activities in the world.
I considered being male a form of torture. That said, overall, being male is much easier than being female in our society.
More beneficial? Depends upon what you want out of life. I want to teach small children, take care of my home, wear pretty clothes, and be a stay at home mommy when I have children. Given those desires, it’s more beneficial to be female.
Without getting into all the political stuff that y’all can go on arguing about: for more beneficial, it’s male all the way.
[ul]
[li]No periods[/li][li]Quicker & easier to go to the bathroom[/li][li]Don’t have to deal with make-up or (unless you’re one of those men) any fancy hairstyles[/li][li]Don’t have to go through pregnancy or childbirth[/li][li]Less stuff to bounce around uncomfortably while you’re running[/li][li]More reliable (if fewer) orgasms[/li][li]Easier to find & buy clothes[/li][li]Given more slack when it comes to weight gain[/li][/ul]
The only thing I’ve ever been able to think of where women have it easier, is that guys have to shave. But then I was reminded, of course, that women (at least in the US) have to shave a lot more just not as often. On the whole, I’m feeling like I totally lucked out.
I believe it is a situational thing. There are parts of the world where being a female is a terrible thing to be. China’s one child policy makes being a female baby a Bad Thing. Hollywood, Bollywood and TV land probably make being a (gorgeous) female a bankable commodity.
For most of us in Western countries, of avearge income and average appearance? Well, the employment situation is still geared to males making more money but females possibly have more options in reguards to having a career or not.
Swings and roundabouts really.
It is still interesting that in some countries, where women have had the greatest freedoms, there has never been a female leader. While in other countries, where the average women has a less then equal life, there have been strong female leaders.
Things that make you go hmmmmm 
What?!?!?!? Have you looked at the average dude in his forties, lately?!
(No offense, guys… I’m sure all Doper dudes in their forties are babes 
)
It’s interesting that “women being six times likelier to be widowed” is considered a problem for women. Yup, we die five years earlier than the chicks just to be spiteful. ???
I do think guys have it easier in a lot of day-to-day respects. I’ll take almost anything in exchange for not having to worry about pregnancy, heels, periods, makeup, breast cancer, and a lot of the subtle and overt ways in which women are judged and marketed and so on.
I will say this, however, just to throw something else out there: the first rule of Guy Club is you don’t talk about Guy Club. Being a woman means putting up with all manner of crap, but women do have the ability (socially and emotionally) to talk about that crap, whether its leering, heels, expectations, or whatever else, with other women. Guys can’t, by which I mean it’s discouraged and we don’t develop the ability. Part of being a guy is being cool all the time. That suits me fine, I’m a very relaxed person. But that means you’re not supposed to complain, it’s unmanly. And so it goes. This is responsible for a lot of internalized pressure and suicides in my opinion.
Where were you when I was dating? Except for the fact that at that time, I didn’t have any way to pay for a date, I would’ve loved having this option. I RARELY got asked out, and every single guy I knew was totally turned off by the idea of the girl doing the pursuing. Hell, if they even got the idea that a girl was mildly interested in them (unless, of course the guy was FIRST to express interest in the girl), they tended to put up a wall. Some years later (after I was married), a group of young adults was talking about dating, and I asked a young man what he’d think of a girl asking him out on a date and he shrugged and said he wouldn’t like it much.
So maybe it’s not always that women don’t WANT to ask a man out, it’s that the MEN are put off by it.
Sorry to disagree with a previous discussion or column…however…
The answer to what is “legal” and what actually happens in private business are two entirely different things. If you are a post office worker, you are making the same, whether you are male or female. if you run a accounting firm and are not wearing a suit, you are being paid 15% less at least. Until Cecil wears a dress and tries to get paid the same amount for the same experience in the private sector, the statistics mean nothing. Even female physicians make less in private practice in every speciality but Pediatrics and OB/gyn. People can disagree with it but my colleaques and I live it.
Medical Economics Physician Earning Survey 9-03
A closer look at total compensation
By physician’s age . . . Under 45 45 and over
FPs $150,000 $150,000
GPs —* 120,000
Internists 150,000 150,000
Ob/gyns 212,700 225,000
Pediatricians 120,000 150,000
By years in practice . . . 1-10 11 and over
FPs $138,000 $150,000
GPs —* 120,000
Internists 140,000 152,000
Ob/gyns —* 225,000
Pediatricians 125,000 130,000
By gender Male Female
FPs $150,000 $140,000
GPs 115,000 —
Internists 155,000 120,000
Ob/gyns 223,000 —
Pediatricians 150,000 120,000 **
*Insufficient data