, I
ABSTRACT
'L't~c OPCS I,oni.;i l.ucliri;il ,'+t,iulv ( I,!;) , wliiI..h links, f o r i n d i v i d u a l s ,
j r i f o r ' m a t i o n f t w i dc!;tt,ti r o r f i t > t l ! , , i 1 1 * 1 r,~:r1.5;11:;~~:; for a 1% s a m p l e o f t h e
p o p u l a t i o n of' 1Snp;land i i r l c ! W a l r
1ielp:
o v e r c o m e some of t h e
r i i f'f'icul.t,ies ~isii;illy f ? n ( : c ) ~ i i i I , ~ ~ t YI 11
d
I rwk I[: at. femalr: occ11
rnortalit,y.
T L t~n;ibl.er; 11s 1.0 ; # t i : i I y:ic nmr*t,alit,y by cl assi f'y
t.he d e a t h s and l.hc pcr::on-yr.;i to::-;if - r * i :;k i11 t.o Krqups def incA j ri terms
o f o c c u p a t i o n r e c o r d e d i i i cirir? soilrce, n;uncly t h e c e n s u s .
I t also
;i.llows u s t o c l a s s i f y i l l 1 w r . ~ i ~ i i , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f o r whom n o
o c c u p a t i o n a l inf'orrnat;ion w ; i ~ ; I V * I i I a b l ~ I'rom t h e c e n s u s ( m a i n l y
h o u s e w i v e s ) , :icr.trrtlinp; t u , I i , i r * i ; !I (11' o t h e r c e n s u s - d e r i v e d socioeconomic measures.
HeiTr:,
.E+ w x i I
2
:
s
looking at d i f f e r e n t i a l s
between
occupational
groii1'I
w
describe
female
mortality
d i l ' f e r e n t i a l s accorrli ng t.c> h ( > ! ~
I.wure a n d w h e t h e r there was a car
a v n i l a b l c f o r i i : i ~ by t h e h o t c l
The d a t a i n d i c a t x c o r i s i d ~ ~ r 9 i i b lrlif'l'erentials
+:
i n m o r t a l i t y i n I971 -81
among women.
Those c l x s i r i c d t,o manual o c c u p a t i o n s h a d much h i g h e r
m o r t a l i t y t h a n ttion? c l a s s i f'i etl t,n non-manual o c c u p a t i o n s .
This
dif'fc.ren t.ial pc
itcd
f'or :I I I age groiips at, d e
parLiculati.Ly l a r ~ eiirnony wornr-+ri ciy i
Lri t.hc wcJrking age m n g e 15-59.
A v e r y l a r g e mortal i.t y d i f ' f e i v ~ r i t . ~ ~ ; iwas
l
f o u n d b e t w e e n women l i v i n g i n
local a u t h 0 r i t . y I i o u s ~ r l g ( i n lloI.Irif~hOldS w h i c h were w i t h o u t a car) and
women i n owner-occupied hotisjng i-17 households w i t h a c a r ) ; f o r women
aged 15-59 a t d e a t h t h e SMl!:i wciiie
136 ancl '17 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
This
l a t t e r d i f f e r e n t i a l was much riarrower at, o l d e r ages, by w h i c h stage,
however, a c o n s i d e r a b l y srnnl 1 c r ' proportj.on of t h e p o p u l a t i o n was
r e s i d e n t i n p r i v a t e household::.
Change:.; i n these d i f f e r e n t i a l s over
t h e 10-ycar period are also invt-:nt,igated Lo e x a m i n e e v i d e n c e f o r t h e
e x i s t e n c e of s e l e c t i o n e f f e c t s .
'
CORTKATS
1.
Introduction
2.
Source of data
3.
Hethodology
4.
Population characteristics
5.
H o r tali ty
6.
5.1
Mortality d i f f e r e n t i a l s by economic position
5.1.1
Mortality a t ages 15-59
5.1.2 Mortal-ity a t o1d.r ages
5.2
Mortality d i f f e r e n t i a l s by own s o c i a l c l a s s
5.2.1 Mortality a t ages 15-59
5.2.2 Mortalj.ty a t oldsr ages
5.3
Mortality
differentials
characteristics
Discussion
notes
References
Tables
Figures
by
household
and
housing
1.
IRTRODOCTIOB
Tradi tiona1l.y ,
England
in
Wales,
and
Registrar General ;: S n c i a I. C:l.:i:;srJ,
economic
differentials
occupationally-derived
iiave been used t o examine socio-
of
tnort31 I 1
jrt
the
the
In
population.
the
Decennial Supplement on Occu[:nl i 1;n tl Mortality f o r 1970-72 ( R e g i s t r a r
General,
1978)
occupational
r'eg i r;t,er.cd
in
the
reiated
the
appropriate
deaths
group
were
to
period
population at, r i s k obtained from t h e 1971 C e n s u s .
1970-72
by
(approximate)
The information
on occupation came from khe d e a t h c e r t i f i c a t e s (for the d e a t h s ) and
from the c e n s u s return:: (for the population a t r i s k ) .
Various biases
r e s u l t from t,he f a c t that, scparat,e sources or inf'ormation were used
(out
of
necesr,ity)
for
the
numerator
and
denominator
of
the
occupational death r a t e s (Regl.?Lrat*General, 1978, Chapter 3 ) .
Here, i n concentrating on rnortxiity among women, we need t o look i n
some d e t a i l a t how and what. infnrrnntjon was c o l l e c t e d , i n particular
a t t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s given t o Rcp;i:;trars of B i r t h s a n d Deaths, a n d the
questions on the censiis schedules.
The
Decennial
SupplemenI,
suii1rnnri:;es
l;he
guidance
given
Registrars.
"If t h e deceased is m a l e a n d aged 15 o r over h i s own
occupation i s recorded. Ii? h e i s u n d e r t h e age of 15
the r e g i s t r a r is required to e n t e r s o n ( o r daughter)
to
5.
of ...I
a n d g i v e t h e ri;ime a n d o c c u p a t i o n of t h e
f a t h e r o r , i f n o t avai1;ib.l.e f o r t h e f a t h e r , t h e name
and o c c u p a t i o n of t h e mother. For a m a r r i e d woman o r
widow t h e r e g i s t r a r is r e q u i r e d t o e n t e r t h e
deceased's o c c u p a t i o n and t h e words 'wife ( o r widow)
of
' a n d t h e name and o c c u p a t i o n of t h e h u s b a n d
(or deceased husband).
k ' o r ' o t h e r females a g e d 15 o r
o v e r t h e i r own o c c u p a t j o v -:houLd b e recorded.
It I S
t h e aim of t h e rcgistt-ar t.o r e c o r d t h e l a t e s t f u l l time g a i n f u l employment f n l ltswed by t h e d e c e a s e d a n d
t o i g n o r e s u b s e q u e n t iri- 1a r p a r t - t i m e o c c u p a t i o n s
of s h o r t d u r a t i o n .
*.,
erms s u c h as ' h o u s e w i f e '
s h o u l d n o t b e u s e d aid j n t h e case of a woman
who i s not
loyed a t t h e d a t e of he
d e a t h , the 1
full-time o c c u p a t i o n s h
not b e r e c o r d e d u n l e s s s h e h a s b e e n f n
e r p l o y m e n t for a o s t of her life," (Registrar
G e n e r a l , 1 9 7 8 , p a g e 5.) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )
...
As
a r e s u l t of t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s o n l y a small p r o p o r t i o n of t h e
d e a t h c e r t i f i c a t e s of women h a d an o c c u p a t i o n r e c o r d e d .
d e a t h s 1970-72 of women a g e d 15-6/+l
20% of t h e
at d e a t h could b e c l a s s i f i e d to
a s o c i a l c l a s s on t h e b a s i s of o c c u p a t i o n of t h e d e c e a s e d ;
among
m a r r i e d women o n l y 10% c o u l d b e c l a s s i f i e d t o a social class, a n d
among widowed women, 12% ( R e g i s t r a r G e n e r a l , 1 9 7 6 , p a g e 26).
The
census
schedule
for
1971 a s k e d
several
q u e s t i o n s a b o u t main
employment ( o r most r e c e n t j o b i f ' r e t i r e d o r o u t of w o r k ) i n t h e week
b e f o r e t h e e n u m e r a t i o n date.
P e r s o n s who h a d n e v e r had a j o b a n d
housewives
a
who
did
not
have
job
i n s t r u c t e d n o t to f i l l i n t h i s s e c t i o n .
in
the
previous
week
were
6.
lheir
occupation
as
stated
Lhr> census;
:rI,
pr.oportioli
this
Was
s l i g h t l y l e s s (45%) arnonCi; m;;r-r-* ( \ < ! womcn a n d more ( 5 5 % ) f o r widowed
wornfln ( Z e g i s t r a r Genera!
In
,summary, a
recorded
on
considerable
very
,
1 9'(flF
r r ' f ~ ~ t , r ai.on
l
low
their
76)
F,(I/I
of
women
curLifjcates.
death
probl.rv~n whei;
occupaLiotia1 groups as iden L i r i t x d
:it
are
Pnskjp
untlertalceri
have
occupational m o r t a l i t y
hampered b y
Llie
l(170-72,
for
the census, where t h e proportiorl
detailed
;i
to
rise
calculated
for whoni an occiipaiic-iri w;?;~ recnrried was f a r h i g h e r .
and
occupation
an
gives
This
rates
tli.atti
have
but
analysis
conclude
t,hat
Roman, Beral
of
work
women's
is
'I..
.
incornplc2 Le r c r o x l i n g of' information about women's
occupation at, Lhe timc: o r f:cai,ki i ~ p ; i : ; t r a t i o n .
4G% of the workforce, o f t e n hav;.
A s women now make u p
L h e i r own s p e c i f i c occupations, a n d
po:;:;i b l y a130 their own speci f'ic occupat,iorially-related d i s e a s e s , i t
i n time f o r t h e Registrar's g i i i d r s l i n e s on t h e recording of women's
-
ocl.1ipation
Lmt r*evicwed at,
t.hc
beainning of this century
-
to he
I
(Roman, Beral and I n s k i p , 1 9 8 4 ) .
I'hc OPCS Longitudinal St.udy,
Lhe
1977
Censu.? schedule
England and Wales i
to
analyse
i n r l iv i d i i a l s 1
,
deaths
.
vrli i c l i
(for' a
L i n k s individual death r e c o r d s t o
1%
sample OP t h e
population
Of
h e l p s ovc?rr;cirie this d i f f i c u l t y as i t enables U 9
by
occupat.i.on
as
stated
at
census
(for
7.
However, a n o t h e r d i f f i c u l t y rmnnin:;.
not o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h f :
m17rj1,
u n a b l e t o a l l o c a t e t h e s e women
Since t h e census e x p l i c i t l y did
r e c e n t , j o b of h o u s e w i v e s we are
t,r) a s o c i a l c l a s s o n t h e b a s i s of
I
' irracl,ivc'
C e n s u s were c l a s s i f i e d
married
women
surmount
the
a t t h e 1971
I n t h e I,,'; 38% nT women aged 15-59
their occupation.
were
who
L h i s g r o u p m a i n l y c o n s i s t e d of
;
although
h o ~ t . ~ . - ~ . ~ i v c 3So
.
difficlil ties
cau:jeid
by
the
helps
LS
the
discrepancies
in
the
o c c u p a t i o n of women a s r e c o r d e d at, d e a t h a n d a t c e n s u s , t h e p r o b l e m
s t i l l r e m a i n s or the h6Kh
proporLion of women i n t h e w o r k i n g age
r a n g e who were not
t m p l o y m e n t i n 1971 f o r whom w e have n o
in p a i d
occupat i o n a 1 1n f'o rina t i o n .
A s a way o f c i r c u m v e n t i n g t h i s p r o b l e m ,
t h e D e c e n n i a l Supplement for
1970-72 a d o p t e d t h e p r o c e d u r e of c l a s s i f y i n g m a r r i e d women a c c o r d i n g
to
their
husband's
occupation.
were
Women
divided
firstly
by
marital s t a t u s , a n d t h e n t h o s e s : i n g l e , widowed a n d d i v o r c e d a t c e n s u s
were c l a s s i f i e d by t h e i r own o c c u p a t i o n , a n d t h o s e m a r r i e d by t h e i r
husband's occupation.
D e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t i n t h e LS 92% of married women 15-59 c o u l d b e
classified
to
a
socjal
class
cin
basis
the
of
their
husband's
o c c u p a t i o n as compared t o 47% who c o u l d be c l a s s i f i e d to a s o c i a l
class
from
just,ification
their
for
own
occupation
using
the
(Table
Decennial
married women's s o c i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n .
are o u t l i n e d below.
I),
there
Supplement's
seems
little
approach
to
Some r e a s o n s f o r this view
a.
1.
I t i s i n s u l t i n g t o rnarrirxj w(~rrir?n and assumes dependence on t h e i r
married women
1,
who
i n the LS 47% of
s o c i a l c l a s s on t h e
3.
It
disregards
t,he
fact
that
( c o n f i n i n g ourselves
to
those
married women i n the LS who can be a l l o c a t e d t o S o c i a l Class I-V
both from t , h e i r own occupat:ton and t h e i r husband's) a comparison
of the s o c i a l clas..; derived from the woman's occupation w i t h t h a t
derived from Lhe occupation of t h e i r husbands i n d i c a t e s t h a t o n l y
i n 27% of the cases were the s o c i a l c l a s s e s the same (Table 2 ) .
For 32% of these women, their h u s b a n d ' s social c l a s s was lower
than t h e i r own.
We can also make the comparison according t o t h e
manual occupations ( S o c i a l CI.;isses IIIM, I V and V ) and non-manual
occupations ( S o c i a l Classes J , I1 and IIIN).
67% of
this
group of
women were assigned
(manual o r non-manual) a s t h e i r h u s b a n d ' s .
T h i s shows t h a t
to
the
same g r o u p
One q u a r t e r of t h e
women were i n the non-manual group w h i l e t h e i r husbands were i n
manual occupations.
a r i s i n g from
(Some of these d i f f e r e n c e s are an a r t e f a c t
the u n s u i t a b i l i t y of
women's occupations ( s e e Section 6 ) . )
this
system of
classifying
9.
4.
I t c r e a t e s severe d i f f i c u l t i e s when we come t o make comparisons
between
groups
of
women
the
si.nce
method
of
social
class
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n depends on t h e i r m a r i t a l s t a t u s .
5.
It
ignores
the
changing
t i n t i ~ i ~ r :of
p a r t i c i p a t i o n of women i n t h r
society,
the i n c r e a s i n g
labour market and the f a c t t h a t
most women a r e i n paid ernplciymcmt a t some s t a g e of t h e i r l i v e s .
6.
The recent rise i n t h e cohabitation o f non-married p a r t n e r s and
the
increases
information is often misleading.
For these reasons i n t h i s paper we w i l l concentrate on seeing what
can be gleaned from using informakion on women's own s o c i a l c l a s s f o r
no d i s t i n c t i o n w i l l be made
looking a t m o r t a l i t y d l f f e r e n t l a l s ;
between d i f f e r e n t m a r i t a l s t a t u s e s .
I n the LS we have 1971 Census
Information f o r a l l sample members, which means we a r e not l i m i t e d t o ,
occupational
classifications
but
variables
classify
i n t o subgroups.
information
to
on
people
household
and
can
housing
use
other
census-derived
The s e c t i o n using
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s provides
an
a l t e r n a t i v e approach f o r looking a t socio-economic d i f f ' e r e n t i a l s i n
mortality;
i t a l s o overcomes the lack of occupational and s o c i a l
c l a s s Information f o r housewives.
,
10.
SOURCg OF DATA
2.
The LS is b a s e d o n a 1% samp1.e drawn from t h e 1971 C e n s u s of E n g l a n d
I t is n o t a s e l e c t e d p o p u l a t i o n , b u t was s a m p l e d o n t h e
a n d Wales.
we h a v e a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a m p l e (see Fox a n d
b a s i s of b i r t h d a t e ;
1982, C h a p t e r 2 ) of t,he whole p o p u l a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e
Goldblatt,
i n non-private households.
The b a s i c i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t we h a v e o n e a c h i n d i v i d u a l i n t h e s t u d y is
d e r i v e d from t h e 1971 C e n s u s s c h e d u l e , w h i c h also p r o v i d e s u s w i t h
some a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n on
h o u s e h o l d member,?.
LS member s h o u s e h o l d a n d o t h e r
Thlo l i n k i n g i n t o t h e s t u d y of t h e 198? C e n s u s
r e c o r d s o f LS members will e n a b l e u s t o assess ( f o r s u r v i v o r s o n l y )
the extent
previous
t o w h i c h c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s have c h a n g e d over t h e
10-year
period.
a t p r e s e n t , we are l i m i t e d t o
However,
l o o k i n g a t i n d i v i d u a l s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a t t h e 1971
Census.
Information
on
sample
members
from
the
census
is
lir.ked
with
i n f o r m a t i o n o n a number of s u b s e q u e n t e v e n t s a b o u t w h i c h d e t a i l s are
routinely collected.
is
death.
The
For our p u r p o s e h e r e t h e most i m p o r t a n t e v e n t
study
now
includes
information
o c c u r r i n g t o s a m p l e members i n t h e i n t e r - c e n s a l
on
all
deaths
p e r i o d 1971-t31 a n d ,
as a c o n s e q u e n c e , we a r e a b l e t o e x t e n d t h e e a r l i e r work o n m o r t a l i t y
differentials
Goldblat t
,
which
1982 1
.
was
based
on
deaths
1971-75
only
(Fox a n d
11.
Naving d e t a i l s on d e a t h s o v e r n 10-year p e r i o d e n a b l e s u s to examine
effects
seLcction
in
more
deljth.
If
health-related
selection
o p e r a t e s , we e x p e c t t h e r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y of t h e p a r t i c u l a r s u b g r o u p
t o c h a n g e w i t h time as t h e s e l e c t i o n e f f e c t wears o f f (Fox, G o l d b l a t t
and A d e l s t e i n , 1982).
In
t h i s p a p e r we h a v e used
i n f o r m a t i o n on economic p o s i t i o n ,
own
s o c i a l c l a s s , h o u s i n g t e n u r e and car a v a i l a b i l i t y t o look a t socioeconomic
differentials
population.
in
Cause-specific
mortality
among
the
female
LS
sample
t r e n d s and d i f f e r e n t i a l s i n m o r t a l i t y
w i l l n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a t t h i s stage.
The 1971 C e n s u s q u e s t i o n s from whj.ch t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n was d e r i v e d
were as follows:
B7. "Did t h e person h a v e a \job l a s t week ( t h e week e n d e d 2 4 t h A p r i l
1971 I ?
The
1.
Yes
2.
No
3.
-
i n a j o b a t some t,ime d u r i n g t h e week
s e e k i n g w o r k o r w a i t i n g t o take u p a j o b
No
-
4.
iVo
-
who11y r e t i r e d
5.
No
-
n o t s e e k i n g work f o r some o t h e r r e a s o n , n a m e l y ,
i n t e n d i n g t o seek w o r k , b u t s i c k
..If
1
i n s t r u c t i o n s o n t h e c e n s u s s c h e d u l e s u g g e s t e d t h a t housewive.s,
s t u d e n t s and
the
p e r m a n e n t l y s i c k s h o u l d b e i n c l u d e d i n n u m b e r 5.
Number 1 i n c l u d e d those i n p a r t - t i m e p a i d e m p l o y m e n t , a n d u n p a i d work
i n a family business.
12.
B.15-B.17
on
T h e s e q u e s t i o n s a s k e d f3r i n f o r m a t i o n
the
person's
e m p l o y e r , t h e p e r s o n ' s o c c u p a t i o n a n d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h a t
work,
and
whether
employed e t c .
he
or
she
was
an
employee,
self-
T h e s e q u e s t i o n s were t o b e a n s w e r e d " i n
r e s p e c t of t h e m a i n employment l a s t week, o r o f t h e most
r e c e n t j o b i f r e t i r t e d o r o u t o f work.
For p e r s o n s who
h a v e n e v e r had a j o b and for a h o u s e w i f e who d i d n o t have
a j o b l a s t w e e k , write 'NONE' a t B.15."
T h i s q u e s t i o n asked w h e t h e r t h e household occupied t h e i r
A.l.
as
accommodation
owner-occupiers,
private
tenants
( f u r n i s h e d o r unfurnished), o r local a u t h o r i t y t e n a n t s .
"How
A.4.
by
c a r s a n d vi3ns a r e n o r m a l l y a v a i l a b l e for u s e
many
you
or
members
of
your
household
(other
than
v i s i t o r s ) ?Ir
I t i s w o r t h m a k i n g o n e or two p o i n t s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s .
There
is
considerable vagueness
p o s i t i o n categories.
on
the
basis
of h e r
and
o v e r l a p between
the
economic
A woman is a l l o c a t e d t o o n e o f these s u b g r o u p s
own
(or that
of
the
c o m p l e t e d t h e c e n s u s s c h e d u l e ) p e r c e p t i o n of
h o u s e h o l d member
who
her e c o n o m i c s t a t u s .
T h i s p e r c e p t i o n w i l l d e p e n d n o t o n l y o n h e r age, b u t a l s o o n h e r
marital s t a t u s ,
a n d the g e n e r a l e c o n o m i c climate.
A s i n g l e woman
may d e s c r i b e h e r s e l f as 'seeking work', w h i l e a married woman, in a
13.
similar
position,
may
describe
herself
'housewife',
as
Some women w i l l s a y t h e y
welcoming a j o b i f t h e o p p o r t u n j t y arose.
a r e r e t i r e d , w h i l e o t h e r s i n a sjmilar p o s i t i o n w i l l sa:
housewives.
H o u s e w i v e s were a l l o c z t
The q u e s t i o n s on p r e s e n t ,
allocate
to
people
Housewives
contained
were
the
put
in
t o t h e category ' i n a c t i v e ' ( !)
Hegistrar
'unoccupied'
and
sic!c'
Social
General ' 3
group;
Classes.
group
this
most, s t u d e n t s .
.
t.0
I)(Js~,
the
'permanently
t h e y are
r e c e n t , o c c u p a t i o n were u s e d
or
the
although
Women
also
who
i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y were e c o n o m i c a l l y a c t i v e ( i n e m p l o y m e n t , o u t of
employment
-
or
sick
s e e k i n g work,
retired),
but
who
failed to
p r o v i d e t h e more d e t a i l e d o c c u p a t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h e n a b l e d them
t o b e a l l o c a t e d t o a s o c i a l clas:;,
inadequat x l y d e s c r i b e d o c c u p a t i o n s*
were p l a c e d i n t h e g r o u p w i t h
.
The q u e s t i o n s on h o u s i n g t e n u r e and c a r a v a i l a b i l i t y were o n l y a s k e d
I n t h i s p a p e r we
of t h e p e r s o n s i n p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s a t c e n s u s .
h a v e n o t l o o k e d in m u c h d e t a i l a t women i n n o n - p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s a s
a
more
detailed
elsewhere
(Moser
investigation
and
of'
Coldblatt,
this
group
1984).
has
been
Visitors
in
households have also been k e p t an a s e p a r a t e subgroup.
c o m b i n a t i o n of t h e ' t e n u r e '
presented
private
Using a
and 'car' information, those r e s i d e n t i n
p r i v a t e households have been divided i n t o s i x subgroups,
i.e.
the
t h r e e t e n u r e g r o u p s e a c h s u b d i v i d e d i n t o those h o u s e h o l d s w i t h ,
and
those without,
cars.
I t h a s beer s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
idtntifies
groups
with
dif’far‘en t
life-styles,
income,
living
c o n d i t i o n s e t c . , a n d t h a t , although i t is cliff icult, t o s t r i c t l y o r d e r
t h e s i x s u b g r o u p s , i t seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e two extremes are p r o v i d e d
by
‘owner-occupiers w i t h cars’.
‘ c o u n c i l t e n a n t s w i t h n o car:?’ a n d
E a r l i e r work on m o r t a l i t y d a t a f r o m t h e LS ( u s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n on
d e a t h s i n t h e p e r i o d 1971-75 o n l y ) has shown t h a t t h e a b o v e g r o u p s do
h a v e v e r y d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s of n i o r t a l i t y ( F o x a n d G o l d b l a t t ,
1982,
page 87).
METHODOLOGY
3.
T h r o u g h o u t t h e a n a l y s i s t h e S t a n d a r d i s e d M o r t a l i t y Ratio ( S M R ), i.e.
t h e r a t i o of o b s e r v e d to e x p e c t e d d e a t h s x 1 0 0 , h a s b e e n u s e d as a
summary
index
of
mortality.
In
instances
where
it
seemed
i n a p p r o p r i a t e t o make c o m p a r i s o n s o f t h e m o r t a l i t y of g r o u p s based o n
the
for
SMRs
s t r u c t u r e s of
a l l ages
(because
of
greatly
the
t h e g r o u p s (see Wen e t a l , 1 9 8 3 ) 1,
differing
age
SMRs f o r n a r r o w e r
age b a n d s h a v e b e e n c a l c u l a t e d .
Expected
deaths,
applying
the
population
to
consideration.
population.
used
death
the
in
rates
calculating
( i n ‘:-year
the
SMRs,
age g r o u p s )
person-year’s-at-risk
in
the
were o b t a i n e d b y
i n the standard
subgroup
under
The t o t a l female L S s a m p l e was u s e d as t h e s t a n d a r d
Approximate
95% c o n f i d e n c e l i m i t s f o r t h e r a t i o of
o b s e r v e d t o e x p e c t e d d e a t h s have been c a l c u l a t e d (see Vandenbroucke,
1982).
15.
4.
'l'htt
POPULATIOB CHARA@TISIRI.STT(. z
r t i . T t ; r i butic.rrr
of' w ( ~ m e r i b y a p ; l n d
::hewn i n Figure 2 .
i,o .'.;ctcial
rlaiii
ocr:uprition
s o c i a l class i.n 1971 is
Not, sur*prmioj.npl
y , I;he wclnien who were classif'ied
Classes 1 to V cot-rc?:iponci twtighly w i t h those :ihown t o be i n
employment. i n F'i jgire 1 .
::ljghi,l.y
owl1
larger.
'Thr? former category
cl.a:is
si.ricf-1 s o c i a l
may
relate
to
was numerically
'most r e c e n t '
f o r t.Ilosc cur-rc.ni,l y not. in p a i d e m p l ( ~ y r n e n t .
were (:la.s::ifiecl as li.mw:cupied'
,
w h j l e the
Housewives
r e t i r e d were c l a s s i f i e d as
16.
' inadequately descri.bed' (except,
most recent j o b ) .
the
f o r - the few who gave i,nformation on
T h u s the d i s t i - n c t i o n between the unoccupied and
inadequately
described
group.? depends
mainly
whether
on
the
respondent d e s c r i b e d herself as a kotisewife o r as r e t i r e d .
Table
3
shows
that
15-59,
worner
among
a l l o c a t e d t o S o c i a l Classes I - V .
53% (77,081) could
be
( T h i s is s l i g h t l y more t h a n the
76,308 who s t a t e d t h a t t h e y were i n paid employment.)
Two-fifths o f
these women were i n S o c i a l Clas.? [I1 non-manual a n d over one-quarter
i n Social Class I V .
The
rernaininq
47% of
r e s i d u a l groups.
15-59
women
Except
for
the
in
LS s a m p l e were i n
the
3% of
women w i t h
'inadequately
described occupation,?' the rest. were i n the 'unoccupied'
( O n l y 102 women or? a l l
ages
in
the
the
category.
LS sample were i n the armed
forces.
Above
retirement
age
propvrt ion
t,he
of
described occupations' increased r a p i d l y .
were
retired
occupation.
women
Social
for
whom we
class
takes
lack
on
women w i t h
' inadequately
Almost a l l o f these women
information on most
a
different
meaning
recent
above
rebirement age as i t tends t o r e f e r t o l a s t occupation, while a t
younger
ages
it
is
more
( e s p e c i a l l y among women,
likely
who,
d e t a i l s on l a s t occupation)
-
if
to
refer
to
housewives,
current
were not
occupation
asked
for
Lzs.7 than 15% of women aged 75 and
above could be allocated t o a s o c i a l class.
17.
Changing employment patterns of women over t h e years w i l l a l s o a f f e c t
the
interpretation
of
economic
and
status
social
class
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s f o r d i f f e r e n t age groups.
Figure 3 shows w i t h i n each 5-year age group t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of women
by household and housing c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i n 1971.
I t shows how t h e
proportion of women enumerated i n non-private households increased a t
older
ages;
women
21% of
aged
85 and
over were
in
non-private
households compared w i t h only 2.4% i n t h e female LS population as a
whole.
Just under 30% of the female sample l i v e d i n l o c a l a u t h o r i t y
housing; two-fifths of these l i v e d i n households w i t h a c a r a v a i l a b l e
f o r use.
rapidly
The proportion of women i n council housing declined q u i t e
at
older
ages,
wbile
accommodation only decreased by
tendency f o r e l d e r l y council
proportion
the
Et
small amount.
tenants
t o move
in
owner
occupied
T h i s may i n d i c a t e a
i n t o homes f o r t h e
e l d e r l y , e t c . t o a g r e a t e r extent. than owner occupiers.
S l i g h t l y l e s s than h a l f of the female LS population were i n owneroccupied
housing,
available f o r
70% of
17% of
use.
(unfurnished and
whom
lived
1,he women
in
households
were
f u r n i s h e d ) accommodation,
in
with
privately
a
car
rented
44% i n households w i t h
cars.
Over h a l f of the female LS population were i n households w i t h a c a r
available
occupiers.
for
use,
The
'without c a r s ' .
and
'with
of
these,
almost
c a r ' groups were much
two-thirds
'younger'
were
owner
than those
18.
As w i t h the economic position and .zocial c l a s s information, different,
meanings car be attached t o h o u s i n g tenure rind c a r ilvai 1 ~ a bli i t y f o r
the d i f f e r e n t age groups.
will
Many of t h e e l d e r l y women in the S a m p l e
have moved out of' Lhe.ir horriw:;
consequently t h e i r hou:;ing
and
in with younger r e l a t i v e s ;
antj c a r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s may r e f l e c t those
o f t h e i r s o n s , d a u g h t e r s , or ~ i r ? ~ i ~ j ~ - , h i lrdartehne r than t h a t t o w h i c h
they have been ;iccustomed f'or mc):;l-,
In
addiLion,
t het^
have b e p n
of t h e i r l i v e s .
cor^::^
derable changes over the y e a r s ,
b o t h i n housing a n d i n c a r ownc>rstiLp, so cohort e f f e c t s m u s t also be
taken i n t o ncroiiri t
.
5.
MORTALITY
5.1
Mortality difrerentials b y economic position
Mortality a t ages 15-59
5.1.1
A
s t h e economic position categoric:s have very d i f f e r e n t meanings a t
d i f f e r e n t ages, we h a v e i n i t i a l l y looked a t m o r t a l i t y i n t h e working
age range 15-59.
Figure 4 show:; i.he m o r t a l i t y 1971-81 of women aged
15-59 a t death b y t h e i r economic position i n 1971.
the same information b u t
1976-81
.
f o r the two 5-year
TabLe 4 g i v e s
periods,
1971-75
and
in
Women
paid
employment
in
1971
had
low
relative
mortality
t h r o u g h o u t t h e f o l l o w i n g ten year.?,
t h o u g h t h e SMR d i d i n c r e a s e from
81 f o r 1971-75 t o 87 f o r 1976-57.
T h e SMRs f o r i n d i v i d u a l y e a r s o f
death
indicate
that
the
mortality
of
this
p a r t i c u l a r l y low i n 1971 w i t h a n ZMR o f 6 6 ,
group
of
women
r i s i n g t o a b o v e 80 i n
T h e s e figlAres s u g g e s t a ' h e a l t h y w o r k e r '
subsequent years.
was
effect,
w h e r e b y t h e women i n p a i d employment were h e a l t h y when c o m p a r e d t o
a l l women;
o v e r time t h i s s e l e c t i o n e f f e c t wore o f f .
S t u d e n t s a l s o a p p e a r t o h a v e had s l i g h t l y lower m o r t a l i t y t h a n w o u l d
be e x p e c t e d ,
small,
but
t h e n u m b e r s of' d e a t h s i n t h i s s u b g r o u p were v e r y
s o t h e r e is a h i g h d e g r e e of
uncertainty surrounding these
SMRs.
I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e h i g h m o r t a l i t y of men ' s e e k i n g w o r k '
( s e e Moser,
19841, t h e m o r t a . t i t y of women ' s e e k i n g work' is low,
Fox a n d ,Jones,
a l t h o u g h i t r i s e s from a n SMR of 83 i n 1971-75
t o 9 7 i n 1976-81.
This supports
is
'selected'
the
'option'
good
t h e suggestion
that t h i s s u b - g r o u p
T h i s s e l e c t i o n arises b e c a u s e of
health.
for
that
married women h a v e t o d e s c r i b e t h e m s e l v e s as e i t h e r ' s e e k i n g w o r k ' o r
as a h o u s e w i f e .
The
' s e e k i n g work'
c a t e g o r y w i l l b e composed of
s i n g l e women and a ' s e l e c t ' g r o u p of t h e married.
T h e two ' s i c k '
g r o u p s had, n o t s u r p r i s i n g l y , v e r y h i g h m o r t a l i t y .
1971 b o t h t h e ' p e r m a n e n t l y s i c k ' a n d t h o s e ' o u t o f e m p l o y m e n t
had SMRs of o v e r 700.
-
In
sick'
I n the 'permanently s i c k ' group, mortality
20.
r e m a i n e d v e r y h i g h (SMRs a l l over 400) f o r t h e rest o f t h e p e r i o d
1971-81, w h i l e f o r t h e o t h e r g r o u p t h e m o r t a l i t y f e l l q u i t e r a p i d l y
over t h e years.
However, a s i s shown i n Table 4 , t h e SMR f o r t h o s e
' o u t of work - s i c k ' i n 7971 was s I i l l v e r y h i g h i n t h e s e c o n d f i v e y e a r p e r i o d (SMR of 250).
An eu,;irnJnaton of t h e SMRs of t h i s g r o u p
f o r n a r r o w e r a g e b a n d s i n d i c i 3 t e s ' ,/]att h e e x c e s s m o r t a l i t y i n 19'71-75
was f a r g r e a t e r i n t h o s e a g e d 15-34 a t d e a t h (SMR o f 1333, c o n f i d e n c e
i n t e r v a l 557-2443)
232-467).
among
t h a n among t h o s e 45-59
A similar p i c t u r e ,
the
a t d e a t h ( S M R of 3 4 0 , C . I .
Lhough not. s o s t r i k i n g ,
'permanently s i c k ' .
One
o l d e r women who were s e r i o u s l y
is o b s e r v e d
p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n is
ill, f e e l i n g t h a t
t h e y would n e v e r
t a k e p a i d employment a g a i n , d e s c r i b e d t h e m s e l v e s as ' r e t i r e d '
than
143 i n
1971-75 r i s i n g t o 203 i n t h e s e c o n d f i v e - y e a r
This confirms t h e hypothesis
healthy
that
The SMH
period.
t h i s g r o u p c o n t a i n e d some 'Less
women.
M o r t a l i t y was s l i g h t l y r a i s e d among t h e ' i n a c t i v e '
of
rather
T h e r e t i r e d g r o u p had h i g h e r m o r t a l i t y t h a n we w o u l d
'sick'.
e x p e c t on t h e b a s i s of d e a t h r a t e s i n t h e female LS s a m p l e .
was
that
106 a n d
105 i n 1971-75
a n d 1976-81
g r o u p , w i t h SMRs
respectively.
A s with the
' r e t i r e d ' g r o u p , t h i s c a t e g o r y may h a v e c o n t a i n e d some women who were
n o t c o n s i d e r i n g p a i d employment b e c a u s e of ill h e a l t h .
hand,
On t h e o t h e r
t h e r a i s e d m o r t a l i t y may r e f l e c t i l l n e s s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e
stress,
However,
boredom
the
lack
and
of
isolation
any
clear
experienced
trend
in
some
by
the
housewives.
mortality
of
this
s u b g r o u p o v e r time t e n d s t o suggest t h a t our d a t a ( l i m i t e d h e r e t o
m o r t a l i t y ) does n o t lend s u p p o r t to t h i s h y p o t h e s i s .
21.
5.1.2
Xortalitp at o l d e r ages
Figure 5 summarises the m o r t a l i t y 1971-81 of women i n age groups 15-
59, 60-74
1971.
and 75 and over a t death by t h e i r economic position i n
I n t h i s s e c t i o n we w i l l
retirement. age.
rfinccntrate on the m o r t a l i t y over
There i s no1,hing p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r i k i n g about the
m o r t a l i t y experienced by the two numerically l a r g e s t groups i n t h i s
age range.
'inactive'
The
'retired'
have s l i g h t l y raised m o r t a l i t y and
have s l i g h t l y lowered m o r t a l i t y .
r e f l e c t some s e l e c t i o n i n
economic s t a t u s .
themselves as
the way
that
the
These d i f f e r e n c e s may
the women described t h e i r
Some women who, a t younger ages', may have described
'permanently
sick',
a t ages over retirement age may
have s a i d t h a t they were r e t i r e d .
There
low
relative
employment
including those w i t h ages a t death 60-74 and 75 and over.
I t is not
s u r p r i s i n g that
mortality
among
women
in
paid
is
the o l d e r women who were s t i l l i n paid work were
unusually healthy.
The
'permanently
sick'
and
'out
of work
-
sick'
groups s t i l l had
raised m o r t a l i t y a t o l d e r ages, although to a much l e s s e r e x t e n t than
i n the working age range 15-59,
T h i s i s presumably due t o the ill
women who a t younger ages described themselves a s ' s i c k ' , b u t having
reached retirement age w i l l s a y they a r e r e t i r e d .
Thus,
the i l l e r
women were spread over more c a t e g o r i e s a t o l d e r ages, r a t h e r t h a n
b e i n g concentrated mostly
the younger age range.
i n t h e t w o 'sick' g r o u p s a s they were i n
'*
22.
T a b l e 5 g i v e s t h e same i n f o r m a t i o n b u t f o r m o r t a l i t y i n t h e two 5year
1371-75
periods
suggestion
women
in
that
paid
there
and
is
This
1976-81.
'healthy
a
employment,
as,
for-
support
adds
age
groups,
the
relative
m o r t a l i t y is h i g h e r i n t h e seconcl h a l f ' of t h e d e c a d e 1971-81.
the
elderly
women,
'permanPnLly
sick'
in
1971,
the
o p e r a t i n g for
worker e f f e c t '
all
to
the
SMR
Among
falls
c o n s i d e r a b l y o v e r t h e 10-year period.
This o u t l i n e
should
on
provide
the mortality differentials
background
a
far
the
by
sections
economic p o s i t i o n
that
follow.
It
i n d i c a t e s how the women i n p a i d employment were a r e l a t i v e l y h e a l t h y
s u b g r o u p of
the
population,
examining m o r t a l i t y
class ( I - V I .
a n d t h i s we s h o u l d bear i n m i n d when
d i f f e r e n t i a l 3 among women by
t h e i r own s o c i a l
S e c o n d l y , i t show;; t h e v e r y h i g h m o r t a l i t y among t h e
'permanently s i c k '
a n d ' o u t of work
-
sick'.
Many o f t h e s e women
were i n h o s p i t a l s e t c . i n 1971 and s o were e n u m e r a t e d i n n o n - p r i v a t e
households.
Thus
t h e s e c t i o n oti d i f f e r e n t i a l s
by
household
and
h o u s i n g c h a r a c t e r i s i c s , i n l o o k i n g a t t h e v a r i a t i o n s among r e s i d e n t s
i n p r i v a t e households, has again concentrated on a r e l a t i v e l y h e a l t h y
sub-group.
23.
Mortality differentials by own s o c i a l c l a s s
5.2
5.2.1
Mortality at ages 15-59
Figure 6 summarises the m o r t a l i t y 19'/1-81
by t h e i r own s o c i a l c l a s s i n 1971.
Table 6 f o r 1971-75 and 1976-81
of women, 15-59 a t death,
The same information is shown i n
separately.
Social Classes I and I1
have been combined i n t h i s a n a l l p i s a s Social Class I was a very
among women i n Social Class I t h e r e were only 15.9
small group;
expected deaths a t ages 15-59 i n t h e period 1971-81.
Several points emerge.
All
t h e women who could
be allocated
to
Social Classes I t o V had lower mortality 1971-81 than expected on
the
basis
(confidence
of
all
women
interval
in
82-91)
the
LS
for
this
sample,
group
with
an
SMR
of
a whole.
as
87
This
compares w i t h an SMR of 84 (confidence i n t e r v a l 80-89) f o r women ' i n
employment' i n 1971.
year
period
Classes I - V
Looking a t the trend i n m o r t a l i t y over t h e 10-
shows t h a t
the mortality
1976-81
i n 1971 was slightly higher (SMR of 89, C . I .
i n t h e f i r s t 5-year period (SMR of 8 4 , C . I .
worker'
of women i n Social
effect
is
employment' i n 1971.
similar
to
that
78-90).
observed
83-96) than
T h i s 'healthy
among
women
'in
The main difference i n t h e composition of the
women ' i n employment' and t h o s e i n Social Classes I t o V is t h a t t h e
l a t t e r includes women c l a s s i f i e d t o a s o c i a l c l a s s from most recent
occupation, i n a d d i t i o n to those c u r r e n t l y i n employment.
24.
Now turning t o the d i f f e r e n t i a l s b,y s o c i a l c l a s s .
A t a f i r s t glance
there is no c l e a r steady mortality gradient across Social Classes I-V
i n e i t h e r 1971-75 o r 1976-81 o r f'or the 10-year period as a whole.
T h i s is u n l i k e the p a t t e r n s f o r rnnlc. mortality
(1971-75) where q u i t e
a d e f i n i t e gradient emerged f o r mcrt ol' working ages; those i n S o c i a l
Classes I and I1 had SMRs of 8 1 and 79 respectively, and those i n
Social Class V had an SMR o f
1985).
116 ( s e e Fox,
Coldblatt and Jones,
Partly f o r t h i s reason i t has often been suggested t h a t we
cannot use women's own s o c i a l class a s a way of i d e n t i f y i n g groups
with
d i f f e r e n t mortality
experience.
Although
there
are
severe
d i f f i c u l t i e s ( a s outlined i n Sections 1 and 6 ) i t seems t h a t some
useful information can be gleaned from s u c h an a n a l y s i s .
I n 1971-81
almost two-thirds of Lhc deaths occurring among women i n
Social Classes I-V occurred t o women i n e i t h e r Social Class IIIN o r
Social
Class IV;
these
two groups had q u i t e d i f f e r e n t
mortality l e v e l s w i t h SMRs of
'78 and 97 respectively.
relative
Women i n
Social Classes I a n d I1 h a d a n S M R of 80, v e r y s i m i l a r t o those i n
Social Class IIIN;
and women i n S o c i a l Class IIIM had an SMR of 100,
which is s i m i l a r t o t h a t of women i n Social Class I V .
The m a i n
anomaly i s t h e low r e l a t i v e mortality ( S M A of 86) of women i n S o c i a l
Class V i n 1971.
v
25.
Comparing
the
period
relative mortality
changed.
1971-75
with
1976-81
we
observe
that
S o c i a l Classes I and 11, a n d IIIN
of
the
hardly
I n c o n t r a s t t o t h i s , the r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y l e v e l s of the
three manual s o c i a l c l a s s e s a l l increased q u i t e s u b s t a n t i a l l y ; t h e
SMR f o r Social Class IIIM increased from 90 t o 110, f o r Social Class
I V from 94 t o 101, and f o r Social Class V from 70 t o 102.
low SMA
1971-75
of
T h e very
i n Social Class V i s hard to explain;
women
although t h i s value is based on only 56 deaths, t h e upper confidence
l i m i t is well below 100.
Considering the two numerically most important s o c i a l c l a s s e s ( I I I N
and I V ) ,
we s e e a widening of t h e m o r t a l i t y d i f f e r e n t i a l s over the
I f we group the s o c i a l c l a s s e s i n t o non-manual ( I ,
10-year period.
I1 and IIIN) and manual
(IIIM, I V and V ) c l a s s e s , we s e e a c l e a r
The r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y of women i n non-manual
pattern emerging.
occupations i n 1971 remained more o r l e s s constant 1971-81, while the
relative
mortality
considerably.
This
annual SMRs 1971-81
of
women
point
is
2-n
manual
illustrated
occupations
rose
quite
i n Figure 7 where the
a r e shown f o r women i n manual and non-manual
s o c i a l c l a s s e s i n 1971.
There a r e some year by year f l u c t u a t i o n s
b u t the o v e r a l l impression is of increasing r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y among
women
in
manual
social
classes
and
reasonably
mortality among women i n non-manual s o c i a l c l a s s e s .
static
relative
26.
W
e h a v e s o f a r c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e women who c o u l d b e c l a s s i f i e d t o
Social
I-V i n
Classes
mortality.
1971
as
who,
a whole,
low
had
relative
The r e m a i n i n g group:3, women w i t h ' i n a d e q u a t e l y d e s c r i b e d
occupations'
and
definition).
the
The
' u n o c c u p i ed'
inadequate.ly
,
had
raised
described'
group,
mortality
as
(by
mentioned
e a r l i e r , c o n s i s t e d of women i n employment, o u t of employment ( s i c k o r
seeking work),
and r e t i r e d ,
was not o b t a i n e d .
for. whom f u l l o c c u p a t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n
T h e i r r e l a t . i v e m o r t a l i t y was v e r y h i g h
w i t h a n SMR of 211.
I n t h e p e r i o d 1971-81
i n 1971
as a whole, t h e SMR of
i t was s l i g h t l y lower (SMR of 1 2 4 ) i n 1976-81
t h i s g r o u p was 132;
than i n the earlier period
( S M R of
This excess mortality
136).
p r o b a b l y r e s u l t s from t h e f a c t t h a t a b o u t h a l f of t h e women 15-59 who
were
'out
of
work
-
sick'
we're
in
the
group w i t h ' i n a d e q u a t e l y
described' occupations.
The
women
in
the
'unoccupied'
category
m o r t a l i t y 1971-81 w i t h a n SMR of' 116.
which
fell
housewives,
to
114
in
1976-81.
The
also
had
high
relative
The SMR f o r 1971-75 was 119,
group
mainly
consisted
b u t also t h e permanently s i c k and s t u d e n t s .
s h o w s how t h e SMR of t h i s g r o u p of women v a r i e d y e a r by y e a r ,
of
Figure 7
27.
F i g u r e 8 s u m m a r i s e s t h e a b o v e i n f - o r m a t i o n by s h o w i n g m o r t a l i t y 197181
f o r women
aged
15-59
at
by
death
own
in
social class
1971.
However, a s w e l l a s s h o w i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l s i n m o r t a l i t y b e t w e e n
the
social classes,
groups,
by
it
relating
proportional
in
also
the
length
to
indicates
SMRs
the
s i z e of
horizontal
Cu
LhF> number
of
the d i f f e r e n t
lines
are
which
expected deaths i n that
subgroup.
I t makes c l e a r how i m p o r t a n t t h e ' u n o c c u p i e d g r o u p ' i s i n
terms
size,
of
occupations,
while
a 1t h o u g h
the
women
with
experiencing
high
'inadequately
described'
are
mortality,
Only
a
r e l a t i v e l y small s u b s e t of t h e female p o p u l a t i o n in t h i s age range.
5.2.2
Mortality at o l d e r ages
So f a r we have c o n s i d e r e d s o c i a l c l a s s m o r t a l i t y d i f f e r e n t i a l s zirnonE
women 15-59 a t d e a t h o n l y .
Table 7 shows t h e SMRs f o r 1971-75 a n d
1976-81 f o r women by s o c i a l c l a s s f o r age g r o u p s 15-59, 60-74 a n d 75
T h e same i n P o r m a t i o n f o r t h e 1 0 - y e a r p e r i o d as a
and o v e r a t d e a t h .
whole
is
shown
in
categories
manual,
unoccupied.
For
Figure
9
non-manual,
the
older
where
women
the
women
the
are
grouped
inadequately
into
described
the
and
a l l o c a t i o n t o s o c i a l class
g r o u p s i s l i k e l y t o b e b a s e d o n a n o c c u p a t i o n t h e y had a t some time
i n the p a s t (rather than c u r r e n t l y ) .
D e s p i t e t h i s we o b s e r v e some
clear
The
differentials
in
mortality.
women
60-74
at
death,
c l a s s i f i e d t o non-manual o c c u p a t i o n s , had a n SMR of 80 f o r 1971-81.
28.
group
Thjs
i n c l u d e d some women c u r r e n t l y i n p a i d e m p l o y m e n t ;
the
women who d i e d a t ages 60-74 i n 1971-81 w i l l h a v e i n c l u d e d women i n
t h e age r a n g e 50-74 a t
1971 C e n s u s .
T h e women c l a s s i f i e d t o t h e
manual g r o u p h a d s l i g h t l y h i g h e r m o r t a l i t y i n 1971-81 w i t h a n SMR of
The women ‘75 a n d ;ibove a t d n a t h show low r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y
c)l.
1971-81
f o r t h e non-manual
manual g r o u p a n SMR of 103.
group,
w i t h a n SMR of 90,
a n d for t h e
Thus t,he women c l a s s i f i e d t o non-manual
o c c u p a t i o n s seem t o h a v e lower r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y t h a n t h o s e i n t h e
m a n u a l o c c u p a t i o n s , f o r a l l age g r o u p s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e aged 75 a n d
over.
the
The d i f f e r e n t i a l n a r r o w s w i t h age.
I
inadequately described’
group a n d t h e
A t ages 60-74 a t d e a t h
unoccupied’
both have
r a i s e d m o r t a l i t y 1971-81 w i t h SMRs o f 113 a n d 105 r e s p e c t i v e l y .
m o r t a l i t y a t ages 75 a n d a b o v e ,
close t o 100.
t h e SMRs of
For
t h e s e two groups a r e
Among t h i s e l d e r l y g r o u p of women t h e o n l y s u b - g r o u p
of t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i t h a m o r t a l i t y l e v e l s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from
100 is t h e g r o u p of women c l a s s i f i e d t o non-manual o c c u p a t i o n s .
5.3
M o r t a l i t y d i f f e r e n t i a l s by h o u s e h o l d
and h o u s i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
Most of t h e e m p h a s i s i n t h i s s e c t i o n w i l l b e o n women r e s i d e n t i n
p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s a t c e n s u s a l t h w g h t h e t a b l e s a n d f i g u r e s do a l s o
g i v e i n f o r m a t i o n o n women e n u m e r a t e d i n n o n - p r i v a t e
v i s i t o r s i n p r i v a t e households.
h o u s e h o l d s and
A d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of t h e l a t t e r
two g r o u p s i s p r e s e n t e d e l s e w h e r e (see Moser a n d G o l d b l a t t , 1 9 8 4 ) .
In
concentrating on women
resident
in
private
households, we a r e
looking a t a r e l a t i v e l y healthy s u b s e t of the female population, a s
those i n h o s p i t a l s , homes f o r the e l d e r l y e t c . a r e not included.
Figure 10 summarises the m o r t a l i t v
1971-81
of women
(all ages a t
death) by t h e i r household and housing c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i n 1971.
c l e a r d i f f e r e n t i a l s a r e shown.
Some
Women i n owner-occupied housing had
q u i t e low r e l a t i v e mortality w i t h an S M R , over the 10-year period, of
84
for those w i t h a c a r and 93 f o r those without a c a r .
Local
authority tenants without a c a r had high r e l a t i v e m o r t a l i t y , w i t h a n
SMR of 109.
'The other tenure-car groups had m o r t a l i t y c l o s e t o t h a t
w h i c h would be expected on the b a s i s of death r a t e s i n the female LS
sample as a whole.
'no
-
W i t h i n any of the three housing tenure groups the women i n the
c a r ' group appear to have experienced higher m o r t a l i t y 1971-81
than
those i n the group w i t h a c a r a v a i l a b l e f o r use.
Table 8 g i v e s the same information b u t f o r the two s e p a r a t e 5-year
periods,
1971-75
and
1976-81.
Within
each
tenure we
observe
a
widening d i f f e r e n t i a l over time of those w i t h and without c a r s ; the
SMRs of the ' w i t h c a r ' groups decreased s l i g h t l y between 1971-75 and
1976-81, while the SMRs of the groups without c a r s increased q u i t e a
lot.
The
differential
between
the
two
'extreme'
groups
occupiers w i t h a c a r and l o c a l a u t h o r i t y tenants without c a r s )
(owner-
i
30.
widened c o n s i d e r a b l y ;
t h e SMR f o r o w n e r - o c c u p i e r s
i n 1971-75
with
c a r s was 85, a n d f o r c o u n c i l t e n a n t s w i t h o u t cars i t was 106;
these
f i g u r e s were 8 4 a n d 1 1 2 r e s p e c t i v e l y i n 1976-81.
T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s shown i n more rlr.t,nil i n F i g u r e 1 1 w h i c h shows t h e
a n n u a l SMRs f o r women, a l l a@$:? a t d e a t h ,
characteristics.
by h o u s e h o l d a n d h o u s i n g
The p r i v a t e t e n a n t a n d c o u n c i l t e n a n t
'with
car'
g r o u p s were c o m p a r a t i v e l y small w h i c h e x p l a i n s t h e f l u c t u a t i o n s i n
The t h r e e t e n u r e g r o u p s show q u i t e d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s of
t h e i r SMRs.
as a whole, h a d a n SMR of 77,
m o r t a l i t y i n 1971; o w n e r - o c c u p i e r s ,
p r i v a t e t e n a n t s 81, and l o c a l a u t h o r i t y t e n a n t s 97.
On t h e w h o l e t h e
m o r t a l i t y l e v e l of t h e s e g r o u p s a p p e a r s t o i n c r e a s e over time.
is
as
would
be
expected
since
the
women
resident
in
This
private
h o u s e h o l d s i n 1971 were ' s e l e c t e d ' f o r g o o d h e a l t h ; t h e less h e a l t h y
women w i l l h a v e b e e n i n h o s p i t a l .
the
differentials
over
thc
T h e r e a p p e a r s t o be a w i d e n i n g of
period.
o c c u p i e r s w i t h cars and t h o s e w i t h o u t ;
This
occurs b e t w e e n
owner-
also between p r i v a t e t e n a n t s
w i t h and w i t h o u t c a r s ; and a l s o b e t w e e n t h e two ' e x t r e m e ' g r o u p s .
As
mentioned
in
Section
4,
the
age s t r u c t u r e s of
the
subgroups
i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e i r h o u s i n g t e n u r e a n d car c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s were v e r y
different.
F i g u r e 12 s h o w s t h e m o r t a l i t y 1971-81
g r o u p s 15-59,
housing
60-74,
of women i n age
a n d 75 a n d o v e r a t d e a t h , by t h e i r h o u s e h o l d and
characteristics
in
1971.
Concentrating
on
the
women
r e s i d e n t i n p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s we see a m o r t a l i t y g r a d i e n t f o r a l l
three
age
groups, but
the
d i f f e r e n t i a l s appear
to
be greater a t
53.
31.
The display f o r women aged 15-59 a t d e a t h i n d i c a t e s
younger ages.
thar, owner occupiers had a clear advantage i n
trirrns
local
private
authorit:{
tenants,
with
t.he
SMR
b e t w e m t h a t of' the two ot.hcr 1,''nlires.
tenure d i f f e r e n t i a l s
j3
of
of m o r t a l i t y over
tenants lying
More s t r i k i n g than these
t,hc large ( l i f f e r e n t i a l w i t h i n a n y of the 3
tcnure groups between women
iil
hc~useholds w i t h and without a c a r .
For example, the S M R 1971-41 of women i n owner occupied housing w i t h
a car was 77, while t h a t o f women i n the same housing tenure b u t
without a c a r was 102; f o r l o c a l authority tenants the SMRs were 96
and
736
for
those
with
and
'without
cars
respectively.
Thus
comparing t h e two 'extreme' groups we have an SMR almost 80% higher
:irnong
the
local
authority
tenants without
a car
than
the owner
occupiers w i t h a c a r .
Among women 60-74 a t death we a l s o observe a c l e a r m o r t a l i t y g r a d i e n t
by
these
household
and
housine
characteristics,
although
the
d i f f e r e n t i a l s were s l i g h t l y less than f o r women aged 15-59 a t d e a t h .
The 'extreme' groups had SMRs of' I?O and 117 for owner occupiers w i t h
a c a r and council tenants without a car r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Again, there
was a marked d i f f e r e n c e w i t h i n a given tenure between those w i t h and
w j t h n u t a car.
The d i f f e r e n c e s i n m o r t a l i t y a t ages 75 and over a r e s t i l l apparent,
b u t much smaller than a t younger ages.
The SMRs range between 90
f o r women i n owner occupied housing w i t h a c a r and 102 for women i n
l o c a l a u t h o r i t y housing w i t h no c a r .
i t ! ':umrnary,
:igr SMRs
1rwk
,it
the: tlif'f'ereriti;iJ:;
illi(!
t,r,cnds t h a t w e o b s e r v e d i n L h e a l L--
f'or t h r ~s i x t,enure-carl :;libgroups are s t i l l apparent wlien
n a r r o w e r age range:;;
tieiice,
b!f
t h e y c a n n o t merely b e a r i s ~ r i g
o u t of t h e d i f f e r e n t age s t r u c t u r e s of t h e s u b g r o u p s .
6.
DTSCIJSSION
'I'h is paper h a s a t t e m p t e d
wlijch
dif'fer
t o i d e n t i f y groups of the female p o p i l l a t , i o n
i n t h e i r l e v e l s of m o r t a l i t y .
(.tint,,ir:t,eri::tic~ o f
the
individuals:
own
We have u s e d two main
social
class
(based on
x
33.
occupational
information),
a
and
combined
tenure and c a r a v a i l a b i l i t y information.
measure
using
housing
These measures i d e n t i f y ,
i f very crudely, groups t h a t d i f f e r i n terms of t h e i r s o c i a l status,
t h e i r economic resources,
t h e i r living and working conditons,
and
a t t i t u d e s and behaviour.
Both
of
analysis
these measures
does
have
indicate
the
limitations,
existence
despite
but,
of
clear
mortality d i f f e r e n t i a l s i n the period 1971-81;
differentials
to
appear
generalisation,
widen
over
this,
our
socio-economic
i n some cases t h e s e
the
10
years.
As
the r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e t h a t women c l a s s i f i e d
a
to the
non-manual occupations (on the b a s i s of c u r r e n t or most recent j o b ) ,
or
women
1iving
household:;
with
advantage,
as
allocated
to
a
far
in
owner-occupied
accommodation
car
available
use)
as
manual
mortality
occupation::,
for
is
or
have
concerned,
living
in
( especially
a considerable
over
those
local
women
authority
housing.
The following paragraphs will summarise some o f the f i n d i n g s and draw
a t t e n t i o n t o problems i n the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the r e s u l t s .
Own S o c i a l Class
We observe low r e l a t i v e mortality 1971-81 among the women who could
b e a l l o c a t e d to S o c i a l Classes
I--V (on the b a s i s of t h e i r own c u r r e n t
o r most recent occupation); the mortality was lowest a t t h e beginning
34
of t h e 7 0 - y e a r p e r i o d a n d t h e n rose g r a d u a l l y .
This 'healthy worker
e f f e c t ' is also s e e n when we look a t t h e m o r t a l i t y of women c u r r e n t l y
i n p a i d employment.
The m a n u a l a n d t h e non-manual
s o c i a l classes d i s p l a y v e r y d i f f e r e n t
The r e l a t i v e mortali t,y of women c l a s s i f i e d t o non-manual
patterns.
o c c u p a t i o n s ( d o m i n a t e d n u m e r i c a l l y by t h o s e i n Social Class IIIN) was
l o w , a n SMR of a r o u n d 8 0 , t h r o u g h o u t 1971-81.
However, t h e r e l a t i v e
m o r t a l i t y of t h e women i n m a n u a l o c c u p a t i o n s ( c o n c e n t r a t e d i n Social
Class IV) was h i g h e r ( e x c e p t i n 1 9 7 1 ) a n d i n c r e a s e d over t h e 1 0 - y e a r
p e r i o d from an SMR of 88 f o r 1971-75 t o 103 f o r 1976-81,
diverging
q u i t e c o n s i d e r a b l y from t h e SMRs :for women i n non-manual j o b s .
T h e s e f i n d i n g s r e l a t e t o women d y i n g a t ages 15-59 a n d a l t h o u g h t h e y
are p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o n o u n c e d among t h i s age r a n g e , similar c o n c l u s i o n s
c a n b e d r a w n c o n c e r n i n g o l d e r women.
These r e s u l t s s u g g e s t
t h a t women's
own s o c i a l class does identify
subgroups w i t h d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s and t r e n d s i n m o r t a l i t y ;
the
social
lower
classes h a d
a
worse,
and
worsening,
women i n
mortality
p r o s p e c t t h a n women i n h i g h e r s o c i a l classes.
The
residual
'permanently
groups,
the
sick')
and
unoccupied
those
(mainly housewives,
with
'inadequately
and
the
described'
o c c u p a t i o n s ( i n c l u d i n g many acute h o s p i t a l p a t i e n t s ) , b o t h had h i g h
mortality
in
1971-81,
following t e n y e a r s .
highest
in
1971
and
decreasing
over
the
35.
Although s o c i a l c l a s s information has here enabled u s t o i d e n t i f y
subgroups
of
the
female
population
different
with
levels
of
m o r t a l i t y , there a r e arguments f o r avoiding using occupation and the
Registrar General's S o c i a l Classes i n the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of women.
It
is
a
system
of
social
classification
which
was
developed f o r use w i t h men's lives and experiences,
originally
and t h e r e a r e
many reasons not t o r o u t i n e l y apply t h e i d e n t i c a l system t o women.
1 . A high proportion of women 15-59 a r e not i n paid
employment, and
therefore cannot be c l a s s i f i e d according t o current occupation.
Housewives a r e o f t e n not
provide
information
on
required
most
(as i n
recent
the
1971 C e n s u s )
occupation.
Women
to
past
retirement age o f t e n f a i l t o give information on past occupation,
and so cannot be c l a s s i f i e d .
Also w i t h
the current very high
unemployment l e v e l s ( a s well a s e a r l y r e t i r e m e n t , e t c . ) i t seems
increasingly
inappropriate
to
use
occupation
as
a
way
of
c l a s s i f y i n g anyone t o a s o c i a l c l a s s .
2. A woman's occupation may not r e f l e c t her way of l i f e
i n the same
way a s i t is suggested t h a t a inan's occupation r e f l e c t s h i s .
cannot
satisfactorily
sum
up
women's
lives
by
their
One
paid
employment, e s p e c i a l l y i f t h e y have c h i l d r e n , e l d e r l y dependents
e t c t o care f o r .
36.
3. Women
have
very
d i f f e r e n t e m p l o y m e n t p a t t e r n s from men.
Women
h a v e i n t e r r u p t e d c a r e e r s i n t h e j o b market, o f t e n s t o p p i n g p a i d
employment
to have c h i l d r e n ,
and
then
returning to the labour
market a t a l a t e r d a t e , p o s s i b l y w o r k i n g p a r t - t i m e
o r from home,
and i n a v e r y d i f f e r e n t area of c m p l o y m e n t because of t h e n e e d t o
c o m b i n e p a i d work w i t h looking a f t e r t h e c h i l d r e n a n d home.
c o n t r a s t s w i t h men who,
This
u n t i l t h e c u r r e n t r e c e s s i o n , have tended
t o b e i n p a i d employment t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r working l i v e s , o f t e n i n
t h e same o r s i m i l a r work
4 . The
Registrar
2
.
G e n e r a l ' s Social Classes were o r i g i n a l l y d e s i g n e d
for use w i t h male o c c u p a t i o n s a n d employment p a t t e r n s ( S z r e t e r ,
1984).
T h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n was
e m p i r i c a l l y d e r i v e d and,
i t has
b e e n a r g u e d t h a t , t h e a l l o c a t i o n of o c c u p a t i o n s t o c e r t a i n classes
was d o n e p a r t i a l l y w i t h t h e p u r p o s e of g i v i n g c l e a r a n d s t e a d y
male m o r t a l i t y
1984).
gradients
People with v e r y
by
social
class
( J o n e s and
d i f ' f e r e n t l i f e s t y l e s and
g r o u p e d together i n t h e same c l a s s .
Cameron,
income are
T h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n does n o t
d i f f e r e n t i a t e a d e q u a t e l y b e t w e e n women's j o b s , a n d we f i n d a h i g h
p r o p o r t i o n o f women i n p a i d
occupational groups.
e m p l o y m e n t a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d i n a few
I n t h e 1 3 , of t h e 53% of women 15-59 i n 1971
who were c l a s s i f i a b l e t o a social class, 40% were i n Social Class
IIIN a n d 26% i n Social Class
IV ( T a b l e 3 )3 .
37
Housing t e n u r e and car availability
In some ways information on household and housing c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
overcomes some of
social
the
problems
classification.
(of using
Housing
tenure
an occupationally-based
and
car
availability
are
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s which can be ascertained for a l l persons i n p r i v a t e
accommodation, regardless of age o r employment s t a t u s .
excluding
population
the
in
non-private
However, by
from
households
this
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n we a r e concentrating on a healthy subset of the t o t a l
population.
Within
the population r e s i d e n t i n p r i v a t e households,
a c q u i s i t i o n of c e r t a i n of the chariic t e r i s t i c s being considered can be
related
To some e x t e n t t h e r e w i l l b e a s e l e c t i o n of
t o health.
healthier
people t o
‘with car’
households, s i n c e t h e s e households
w i l l contain a t l e a s t one person who i s able t o drive.
are unable t o drive due t o i l l - h e a l t h ,
Some people
People may be e l i g i b l e f o r
council housing a s a r e s u l t of i l l - h e a l t h , d i s a b i l i t i e s e t c .
‘There
have
been
distribution
of
owner-occupied
considerable
households by
sector
cklanges
over
housing tenure,
primarily a t
recent
years
in
the
an i n c r e a s e i n the
the expense of
the
privately-
rented s e c t o r , and a s a r e s u l t , the ‘meanings’ attached t o d i f f e r e n t
housing
tenures
have
changed
a great
overalL increase i n c a r ownership.
deal.
There
has
been
an
2)
38.
Another point worth noting i s t h a t w i t h i n any given household i t is
often the case t h a t c e r t a i n things, f o r example food, l e i s u r e time,
access
the car e t c .
to
members,
a r e not
shared
usually t o the disadvantage of
equally between household
the women.
So
i t seems
l i k e l y t h a t w i t h i n a given group i d e n t i f i e d by i t s housing tenure and
car a v a i l a b i l i t y the women t e n d t o be disadvantaged as compared t o
the men of any household.
With
these
reservations
i n mind,
we w i l l
now summarise t h e key
r e s u l t s of the a n a l y s i s of mortaj-ity d i f f e r e n t i a l s by household and
housing c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
Housing tenure and c a r a v a i l a b i l i t y do appear t o i d e n t i f y groups w i t h
different
l e v e l s of
between the 'extreme'
mortality
1971-81,
with
a clear differential
groups; women i n owner occupied accommodation
w i t h a c a r had a considerable advantage i n terms of m o r t a l i t y over
the women
car).
i n l o c a l a u t h o r i t y housing ( e s p e c i a l l y those without a
Although t r u e for a l l age groups, these d i f f e r e n t i a l s were
very wide i n the age range 15-59 a t death, and then narrower f o r
o l d e r age groups.
'-,
39.
W i t h i n a n y t e n u r e g r o u p , w h e t h e r t h e h o u s e h o l d h a s a car or n o t seems
t o i d e n t i f y s u b g r o u p s w i t h a d i f f e r c n t l e v e l of m o r t a l i t y , t h e g r o u p s
with
cars
without
having
.
a
considerable
mortality
advantage
over
those
T h e m o r t a l i t y of t h e ' w i t h c a r ' g r o u p s s t a y e d r e a s o n a b l y
s t a t i c o v e r t h e p e r i o d 19'11-81, w h i l r > t h a t of t h e groups w i t h o u t c a r s
T h e m o r t a l i t y d i f f e r <n i , i a l b e t w e e n t h e ' c a r ' a n d t h e 'no-
increased.
c a r ' groups war, v e r y w i d e i n t h r >
g r o u p 15-59 a t d e a t h , b u t t h e n
il\<f?
decreased a t o l d e r ages.
Amongst t h e e l d e r l y ,
'with'
and ' w i t h o u t '
l i k e l y t o own t h e i r own cars,
E l d e r l y women are .LPSS
distinction.
s o o n e could h y p o t h e s i s e
in
those
that
c a r s becomes a n i m p o r t a n t
h o u s e h o l d s w i t h c a r s are
l i k e l y t o b e l i v i n g w i t h younger. r e l a t i v e s ( p o s s i b l y b e c a u s e of ill
Women i n h o u s e h o l d s w i L h o u t c a r s a r e more l i k e l y t o b e
health).
l i v i n g o n t h e i r own a n d t h e r e f o r e are p r o b a b l y more h e a l t h y .
Among
women l i v i n g a l o n e there will be more of a s e l e c t i o n e f f e c t o f t h e
less
healthy
healthy
women
women
contributing
to
e l d e r l y women,
this issue,
as
the
into
hospital:;,
residents.
private
lack
of
much
a s s e e n i n T a b l e 3.
i t would b e u s e f u l
living alone,
those
relatives or friends.
homes
living with
etc.,
leaving
These
effects
mortality
differential
the
may
more
be
amongst
To s h e d some f u r t h e r l i g h t o n
t o a l s o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n Women
a spouse,
and
those l i v i n g w i t h
40.
As m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r
t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n by h o u s i n g t e n u r e a n d
car
a v a i l a b i l i t y a p p l i e s o n l y t o women r e s i d e n t i n p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s .
Hence, t h e a b o v e m o r t a l i t y d i f f e r e n t i a l s m u s t b e v i e w e d a l o n g s i d e t h e
The mortality
h i g h m o r t a l i t y of t h e women i n n o n - p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s .
is v e r y h i g h i.n 1 9 7 1 a n d d e c r e a s e s s l o w l y over t h e
of t h i s s u b - g r o u p
f o l l o w i n g 70 y e a r p e r i o d , b u t rtwaining h i g h t h r o u g h o u t .
W
e
conclude
which
we
that,
have
despite
at
look
to
used
limitations
the
of
characteristics
the
socio-economic
differentials
in
m o r t a l i t y among womcri i n t h e LS s a m p l e , we h a v e i d e n t i f i e d s u b g r o u p s
of
the
population
with
very
different mortality
experience.
The
s o c i a l class c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s i n d i c a t e d much h i g h e r m o r t a l i t y among
women
to
classified
manual
to
classified
non-manual
occupations
occupations.
as
compared
with
those
The
classification
using
h o u s e h o l d a n d h o u s i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s showed much h i g h e r m o r t a l i t y
among women
occupied
i n local
housing.
households with,
a u t h o r i t y accommodation
Within
any
and w i t h o u t ,
tenure
t h a n women i n o w n e r
category
a
comparison
of
c a r s , showed t h e l a t t e r t o have much
higher m o r t a l i t y .
I n a l l cases t h e s o c i o - e c o n o m i c
d i f f e r e n t i a l s i n mortality appeared
t o i n c r e a s e over t h e time p e r i o d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , 1971-81.
These
i n c r e a s i n g d i f f e r e n t i a l s can b e l a r g e l y a t t r i b u t e d t o i n c r e a s e s i n
the
relative
authority
mortality
tenants,
(depending on
which
and
of
ilnanual
the
the
variable
women
is
in
being
social
the
local
without
cars
classes,
households
considered).
One p o s s i b l e
41
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of
these r e s u l t s i s t h a t there i s more of a health-
r e l a t e d s e l e c t i o n e f f e c t ( f o r good h e a l t h ) operating among these sub-
groups, than i n the remaining sub-groups.
Throughout, the d i f f e r e n t i a l s were ~ . ~ . : : a t e si tn t h e age range 15-59,
narrower i n t h e e a r l y retirement age:;,
and small among women aged 75
and above a t death.
F u r t h e r a n a l y s i s using information on cause-specific
m o r t a l i t y may
l i g h t on the nature and e x t e n t of
t h e mortality
s h e d some f u r t h e r
d i f f e r e n t i a l s we have observed.
f i t models
trends
in
Also, i t may prove b e n e f i c i a l t o
t o t h e data i n an attempt t o a s s e s s t h e evidence f o r
mortality
over
the
10-year
period.
In
the
present
analysis we have l i m i t e d ourselves t o looking a t the p o i n t estimates
f o r i n d i v i d u a l y e a r s ( F i g s 7 and 1 1 ) .
42.
Eotes
1.
The
age
range
15-64
s u i t a b l e r a n g e 15-59)
has b e e n u s e d here ( r a t h e r t h a n t h e more
b e c a u s e t h a t is t h e r a n g e for w h i c h t h e s e
s t a t i s t i c s were p u b l i s h e d .
2. O t h e r p o i n t s w o r t h c o n s i d e r i n g i n r e l a t i o n t o women's work are:
( a ) the
extent
of
voluntary
work
u n d e r t a k e n by women, w h i c h
b e i n g u n p a i d will n o t b e m e n t i o n e d on t h e c e n s u s form;
( b ) 'of'f
t h e record'
work w h i c h women would n o t admit t o o n t h e
c e n s u s form;
( c ) seasonal
work,
including
c e r t a i n times of t h e y e a r
work w h i c h i s o n l y
(e.g.
available at
women w o r k i n g as c l e a n e r s ,
domestics, e t c . i n educational e s t a b l i s h m e n t s ; work c o n n e c t e d
up i n
the
school h o l i d a y s so t h a t t h e y c a n look a f t e r t h e c h i l d r e n .
It
with
tourism),
a n d a l s o work w h i c h women g i v e
i s worth n o t i n g t h a t t h e 1971 C e n s u s was t a k e n i n t h e s c h o o l
holidays.
3.
Of
t h e 550
occupational
u n i t s , i n 1979 t h e ' t o p 1 2 ' u n i t s ( i n
terms of numbers o f d e a t h s ) a c c o u n t e d f o r a b o u t 60% of d e a t h s t o
--,.
43.
women aged 15-64
I
(McDowell, 1983).
Among men t h e i r ' t o p 12' u n i t s
only accounted f o r one t h i r d of deaths.
Most o f the deaths t o women
ocurred i n the groups ' o t h e r c l e r k s and c a s h i e r s ( n o t r e t a i l ) ' a n d
'typists,
shorthand w r i t e r s ' .
T h e 550 u n i t s a r e condensed i n t o 1 7
occupational o r d e r s ; most of the women a r e concentrated i n f o u r of
these o r d e r s .
The Decennial Suppiement based round t h e 1981 Census
( c u r r e n t l y being w r i t t e n ) has gone some way towards r e c t i f y i n g t h i s
problem by redefining the occupational orders t o be u s e d f o r women i n
such
a
way
as
(McDowell, 1 9 8 2 ) .
and women.)
to
reduce
some
of
the
excessive
concentration
(Previously the same orders have been used f o r men
However, t h i s does not change t h e R e g i s t r a r General's
Social Class c l a s s i f i c a t i o n .
44.
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Table la Distribution o f rarriard women aged 15-59
mccordirg to their oun end their husband's
s o c i r l rlaee (1871)
Married
Married women classified
by own social class
wmen
Social C l w - ~ . I-U
classified by husband's social class
Residual groups*
Total
S o c i a l Class I-V
43.6
(46234)
3.5
(3736)
47.2
(49970)
Residual groups*
48.5
(51361)
4.4
(4644)
52.8
(56005)
92.1
7.9
(97595)
(0380)
100.0
(105975)
Total
*Residual groups comprise armed forces, inadequately described occupations,
and unoccupied.
(NI
T a b l e 2:
Dlrtrlbutlon of marrled uomen aged 15-59
t o thelr own and thslr husband's occupat
classlfled Into Soclal Classes I t o V on
of thelr orn and thelr husband's
occupat
accord1 ng
on; women
the bas I s
on only
(1971 1
M n r r l e d w m 0 n c l a s s l f l e d by husband's social c l a s s
M a r r l e d wmen c l a s s l f l e d
b y own soclal c l a s s
1
I I IN
IIIM
I
0.3
0.4
0.1
0.1
II
1.6
6.7
2.0
3.5
IV
V
0.8
(392)
1.4
0.3
15.6
(71 78)
I1 IN
2.4
8.2
6.9
13.5
4.6
1.1
36.7
( 16978)
I I IM
0.2
0.9
0.8
5.2
2.0
0.7
9.8
(4539)
IV
0.5
2.7
2.2
13.6
7.0
2.3
28.2
(13029)
V
0.1
0.4
0.5
4.3
2.4
1.2
8.9
(41 18)
Total %
N
4.9
(2272)
19.3
(8920)
il2.5
40.3
(9773)
(18652)
17.4
(8041)
5.6
(2576)
100.0
(46234)
i
.
Percentage distribution i n 1971 o f roren mnd m e n
Table 3:'
o f r o r k i n g ages by orn
Social class in 1971
[S.C.
social clmss (LS)
Women aged 1.5-59
Men aged 15-64
I
n.5
4.8
I1
8.7
16.2
IIIN
21.2
10.8
IIIM
5.3
35.6
IV
13.7
15.9
v
3.6
6.9
I-VI
r53.01
c90.21
Armed forces
0.1
1.2
Inadequately described
2.9
1.6
Unoccupied
44.1
-
7.1
-
Total
100.1
100.1
(145520)
(161699)
Table 4:
Mortality o f uomeri aged 15-59 at death,
and econollc posltlon In 1 9 7 1
by y e a r of death
Year o f death
Economic position I n 1971
,
-
1971-75
81 175-871
(692)
In employment
Out of employment
-
O u t of employment
- seeking work
1976-81
87 181-941
(732)
425 1311-5561
(481
250 I 1 57-365 1
(23)
83 151-1241
(211
97 [61-1421
(23)
Ret I r e d
143 1101-1941
(38)
203 [ 130-293 1
(25)
Permanently slck
51 2 [417-618 1
( 1 04)
532 [410-670 1
(67 1
96 [55-1471
95 156-1451
(17)
(18)
slck
S t udet i t
I nact I ve
TOTAL
SMR [approx. 95% conf ldenca interval I
(observed deaths)
106 [98-1151
(637)
105 [96-1141
(594 1
too
100
(1557)
(1482)
x
Table 5:
M o r t a l I t y of uomen by age at death
year o f death and economic p o s i t i o n I n 1971
Age at death
Econunic posltlon I n 1971
15-59
75 and over
60-74
c_I
In employment
1971 -75
1976-81
Out of employment
1971 -75
81 (692)
87 (732)
- slck
1976-81
Out o f employment
1971 -75
1976-81
67 (524)
06 (1216)
- seeklng work
Rot 1 red
1971 -75
1976-81
425 (48)
250 (23)
224 (19)
231 (39)
100 ( 2 )
121 (4)
03 (21)
97 ( 2 3 )
103 (24)
105 (40)
115 (13)
57 ( 1 3 )
143 (38)
203 ( 2 5 )
109 (1800)
109 (1087)
101 15640)
512 (104)
512 (67)
381 (139)
268 (129)
204 (132)
140 (72)
-
-
104 (5035)
Permanent I y s f ck
1971 -75
1976-81
Student
1971 -75
1976-81
96 (17)
95 (10)
-
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
1 nact 1 ve
1971 -75
1976-81
SMR (observed deaths)
106 (637)
105 (5941
99 (1657)
100 (1737)
93 (2570)
100 (3592)
'-
Table 6 r
mortality o f momen aged 13-59 at death by
year mf demth and own socfal clams fn 1971
Year OF d e a t h
Social Class i n 1971
1971-75
S o c i a l Class I & I1
S o c i a l Class IIIN
1976-81
eo r66-961
79 [65-941
(122)
(1161
79 [69-901
77 [67-871
(234)
(236)
110 EBB-1353
(90)
S o c i a l Class IIIM
90 [70-111]
(78)
Social Clsss IV
94 [82-l06I
(237)
S o c i a l Class V
70 [53-903
(56)
102 c8o-ize1
(72)
I .D.
136 [106-171]
(70)
124 [91-1621
(491
Unoccupied
119 [110-1271
114[ 105-123 I
(679)
(756)
TOTAL
100
(1557)
SMR [approx. 95% c o n f i d e n c e i n t e r v a l 1
(observed deaths)
There were no d e a t h s t o women i n the armed rorcee.
There were 102 such women i n t h e sample i n 1971.
100
(1482
Table 7 t
l l o r t a l i t y a f women by age at death, year
o f death and QUN s o c i a l class in 1971
Age a t d e a t
Socinl Class i n 1971
15-59
60-74
75 and over
S o c i a l Class I & 11
1971-75
1976-81
80 (122)
79 (116)
84 (214)
82 (264)
89 (288)
96 (424)
S o c i a l Class IIIN
1971-75
1976-81
79 (236)
77 (234)
74 (251)
84 (407)
86 (196)
86 ( 3 4 9 )
S o c i e l Class IIIM
1971-75
1976-81
90 (78)
110 (90)
112 (155)
95 (177)
107 (178)
107 (228)
S o c i a l Class I V
1971-75
1976-81
94 ( 2 3 7 )
101 (242)
76 ( 2 8 2 )
96 (512)
103 (285)
99 (427)
S o c i o l Class V
1971-75
1.976-81
70 ( 5 6 )
102 ( 7 2 )
83 ( 1 3 2 )
100 (218)
97 (89)
107 (188)
136 (70:
124 (49:
112 (1333)
111 (803)
105 (4072)
101 (4396)
119 (75El)
114 (679)
105 (1796)
105 (1866)
95 (2702)
100 (3664)
Inadequately d e s c r i b e d
1971-75
1976-8 1
Unoccupied
1971-75
1976-81
SMR (observed d e e t h s )
Table 8 :
Mortalfty of women b y year o f d e a t h a n d household a n d
h o r s l n g charscterlstlcs In 1971 ( a l l a g e s a t d e a t h )
Year of death
Housing c h a r a c t e r l s t l c s
1971-75
1976-81
85 [81-881
84 [80-871
(2351 )
(2918 )
Owner occuplers w i t h o u t car
80 185-921
(3237 )
96 I93-991
(3964 1
P r 1 vate tenants w 1 t h c a r ( s )
94 186-1031
93 I86-101 I
(618)
Owner occupler-s w i t h c a r ( s f
(500)
f’r 1 v a t e tenants w i t h o u t car
Local a u t h o r l t y tenants w l t h c a r ( s )
Local a u l l m - I t y tenants w i t h o u t car
V i s 1 t o r s I n p r i v a t e households
Enumerated I n non-prlvate households
94 [go-981
(2150)
109 [105-1131
(2716)
101 193-1091
(61 7)
98 t91-1051
106 1102-1 101
( 2906 1
(791 )
112 1109-1161
(3564 1
92 t80-1041
91 I80-1031
(232)
(253)
21 8 t208-229 1
(1615)
149 1138-161 1
(632)
~
SMR [approx. 95% conf ldence I n t e r v a l I
(observed
deaths)
There were 39 deaths 1971-31,
among women r e s i d e n t I n p r i v a t e housoholds,
f o r whom we have no I n f o r m a t i o n on hous,lng tenure.
x
TebIe 9 :
Rortmlity af uomen by rqe a t death, year o f death and
household mmd housing charsctsristfcs i n 1971
Age a t d e a t h
ilnusinq c h o r n c t e r i s t i c s
Under 15
Owner o c c u p i e r s with c a r ( s )
1971-75
1976-01
74 ( 2 2 )
03 (9)
Owner o c c u p i e r s w i t h o u t car
1971-75
1376-01
71 ( 6 )
63 ( 2 )
15-59
60-74
75 and o v e r
91 (1058)
89 (1438)
77 (465)
78 ( 4 8 3 )
100 (178)
87 ( 9 3 5 )
97 (882)
88 (113)
83 (102)
94 (183)
90 ( 2 4 2 )
117 (146)
136 (135)
100 (656)
119 (667)
89 (1340)
104 (1910)
93 (211)
98 (237)
1.05 (207)
96 (303)
101 (180)
99 (245)
133 (351)
139 (347)
113 (1010)
120 (990)
97 (1533)
106 (2224)
(0)
106 (10)
89 (7)
119 (79)
84 (41)
81 (143)
93 (205)
Enumerated i n n o n - p r i v a t e households
1971-75
1500 ( 6 )
1976-8 1
1000 (1)
371 ( 9 1 )
181 (37)
321 (280)
182 (126)
197 (1238)
140 (468)
P r i v a t e t e n a n t s with c a r ( s )
1971-75
1976-Ul
48 ( 3 )
83 ( 2 )
P r i v a t e t e n a n t s w i t h o u t car
15271-75
154 (A)
200 ( 4 )
1776-81
L o c a l a u t h o r i t y tenants w i t h
1771-75
1 ‘J7h-0 1
car(s)
172 ( 1 7 )
171 ( 6 )
Local authority tenants without
SMR (observed d e a t h s )
89 (2111)
95 (2702)
100 (201)
101 (272)
car
88 ( 1 2 )
63 ( 3 )
1971-75
I 37 6-E 1
Visitors i n p r i v a t e households
1971-75
1376-0 1
96 ( 1 8 5 )
-
(0)
F I G U R E 1:
D i o t r i b u t i o n o f women b y a g e
and e c o n o m i c p o e i t i o n i n 1 9 7 1
--...
-----f IGURE
5:
Djntrihution o f women by age and
h fit1 D o h o 1 d a n d h a us i r i cj c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
iri
1971
FIGURE 4 :
Mortality 1371-81 I.,f xamen aged 15-59 a t d e a t h
b y economic p o s i t i o n i n 1371
c-
I
I
t
1
i
1
1
1
I
1
T
I
I
I
I
&
I
1
1
I
JL
T
I
I
I
... ,..
*..-...*,..I.
1
..,.- .
_ ..
*.A,."-
....
T
,,.,.
t
I
I
- 1 .
I
0
1
I
1
Q
L
I
I
I
1
I
I
I
I
J.
1
I
1
I
c-
z
>
c
2
m
3
...- ..
.A.
s
m
* . I
FIGURE 5:
M o r t n l l t y 1171-01 of women I n age groups
15-59, 60-74, and 75 and over a t death by
oconmlc poslfiori I n 1971
T
I
1
x
I
1
1
It
I
+
1
I
1
I f
11
I
I
I
* 7
' I
I I
T
' 1
I
LI \
I
I
b
1
T
I
I
+
I
I
1
L
\
I
t
L
, . . . . , . . . . ,.,.
... , .
;f
. . , ._,,.,...I
r
a
-
.
.
.
-
.
..
Q
,,.
... ..., ..k
Cv3..L L
FIG'IRE
~- .-6 :
M o r t a l 1 t y lQ71-81 o f women aged 15-59 a t d e a t h
by own s o c i a l c l a s s In 1971
200
f
I
IS0
I
I
0
I
I
I
T
1
J -
...............................
I
..........
T
+
.
.
.
i
T
I
I
- *
I
I
T
80
r
I
." T"
T
4
L
. . ...........................
*
I
I
i
I
I
1
I
L
60
tr,
,
r'
1-1
P
b
h
P
C
Z
0
F:
C
z
m
P
I-IGIJPC 7 :
___-
Eurtall t y of wmen agod 15-59
death by year
o f dnnth (annual SMRs) and own ,ocial c l a s s I n
1 0 7 1 ; nun-manual, manual and uri m u p l e d
T
L
I
...... .. . .. . -".r... . . - . .
a
.
.
i
L
C
z
O
r
r
c
?
F'
t
x
I
I
I
1
I
I
4
I
I
4
I
I
,
I
1
I
4
w
I
I
d
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
8
I
I
I
I
t
I
r
I
I
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I
I
m
f
I
I
9
*I)
I
r
.-
I
1
I
?
I
$;
1
t
1
2
1
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
1
I
I
I
1
I
fl
b)
I
f
'
[FIGURE
b r t a l l t y 1971-0' of women i n age groups 15-59,
and 75 an,! o v q r a t death by own soclel c l a s s
In 1971 ; non-mnn*;r,l, manual, Inadequately descrlbed,
9:
60-74,
and unoccupl fld
T
I
I
1
I
1
7
T
&
1.
.T. ,.. . .. . _ .
_ _ ,..
_ .,..
~
,
.
..._._..I_
! r ,...
J-
1
4
T
d
1
T
..-a
. I . I....
---- y 3 ;
T
.....,--A-.
* - A
"-3r
b
1
2
i
J-
60
b
r-
=L"
+3
c
E
r
t
W
rn
m
c
-
m
0
F I G U H E 10:
M o r t a l i t y 1.'171-81 o f w o m e n ( a l l a g e s a t d e a t h )
b y h o u s e h n b l : r n d h o u s i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s in
1971
2 $0
T
200
0
1
'
I50
LOO
-
. . . . . I
-..,. . . .. ... ...'7"'""'3..'
F
L
80
+1
..I.
L
.I&* ,.,,..... .......'T. .. . ...-..- ..
- *
L
i
L
I
60
2
FIGURE 1 1 :
Mortality of women (a1 I ages at death) by
year of death (annual SMRs) and household
and houslng characterlstlcs in 1971
\
..(.,....,
,,.,-.
. . . . . . , . I . .
.... ...
. . - r
F1,;IJRE
_-_
Mortailty 1971-81 of w m n In age groups 15-59,
12:
60-74, nnd 7 5 and over at d e a t h by h o i r s e h o l d
and hou5lng characturlstlcs In 1971
.
t
i
.
. ..
i
.. .*
.
I
‘ .
1
0
:
,
IS - sq
t
i