From equality at the turn of the century this gender gap has been widening. Now, on average men live to 73 years while women live to 80. Although both men and women have benefited from medical advances, clearly men have not made equal gains. Men's early deaths are not inevitable or a consequence of gender. Men can live as long as women.
Research shows that certain groups men and women led equal lives.
Mormons, for example, are equal in longevity at 86 years. So it may be that the way to increase women's life span may be to increase men's life span. Men who get to their 80's and 90's have a mortality rate equal or lower than women. The problem for men appears to be getting there. So let's look at why men don't get to 80.