The sexuality we inherit at birth is an advantage or disadvantage depending on the society in which we live. Even Covid-19 treats us differently by delivering dissimilar outcomes. This is a generalization of course, because no two of us are identical. However, let’s find out how Covid-19 knock downs vary between genders in broad terms.
Covid-19 Knock Downs Vary Between Genders in Hospitals
Twice as many men as women are dying from Covid-19 in New York City according to New York Times. Some 69% of deaths across Western Europe are also skewed that way. Martha Henriques writing for BBC Future reports a similar trend in China. Why is this so?
Philip Goulder, professor of immunology at the University of Oxford thinks women’s immune response is stronger because they have two X Chromosomes, whereas men have only one. The protein that senses the coronavirus resides on the X Chromosome, he explains. Therefore, females have an amplified immune response to the virus compared to males
Financial Fallout at the Supermarket Checkout Varies the Other Way
Covid-19 knock downs vary between genders in terms of financial fallout, but this time it favors men. Michèle Tertilt, an economist at Mannheim University in Germany is investigating this phenomenon in the United States. She told Martha Henriques employment is not falling ‘across the board’.
That’s partly because 24% of men are in ‘critical occupations’ compared to 17% women. Moreover, more males are in tele-commutable jobs they can do at home. By contrast, the majority of workers in the hospitality industry are female; think holiday accommodation, restaurants and travel. The gender pay gap compounds this effect, because women have statistically less income to spare for savings.
Perhaps the harshest reality is 75% of U.S. single parents are female according to Michèle Tertilt. Male to female violence is on the uptick too around the world. Covid-19 knock downs vary between genders, but are equally cruel on balance. This is the harsh reality behind the somber numbers raining down.
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Preview Image: Raining Down on New York City
