Introduction

Changing gender differences in health in Sweden is an interesting field of study because gender equality has been prioritised, there is high labour force participation among both women and men, and there is a higher share of women in parliament than in most other OECD countries (Korpi, 2000). In a recent report on women's empowerment, Sweden ranked number 1 (overall score) out of 58 countries in gender gap ranking in the fields of economic participation, economic opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment and health and wellbeing (Lopez-Claros and Zahidi, 2005). Nevertheless, many studies suggest that there are significant gender inequalities in Sweden in numerous areas, such as in the division of domestic responsibilities (Krantz et al, 2005), choice of educational career (Dryler, 1998), occupational opportunities (Nermo, 1999) and wages (le Grand, 1991; Thoursie, 1998; Bygren et al, 2004).

One issue that is of particular public health interest in present-day Sweden is trends in the development of common illnesses that account for the great majority of sickness absence and disability pensions, such as musculoskeletal pain and mental ill health (Lidwall et al, 2004). Gender differences in these common illnesses and sickness absence appear to have increased in the most recent period, possibly due to poor working conditions in predominantly female jobs in the public sector (Lidwall et al, 2004). The Work Environment Survey in Sweden observed that work-related illnesses in Sweden increased by two thirds for women and almost doubled for men between 1996 and 1998 (Statistics Sweden and Swedish Work Environment Authority, 2001).

Less is known about how gender differences in common measures of ill health have developed over a longer period. In this chapter we will analyse gender differences in health and social factors in the period covered by the Level-of-Living Survey (LNU) (1968-2000). Our aim is twofold: (a) to analyse whether there have been any changes in gender differences in musculoskeletal pain and psychological distress during 1968-2000; and (b) if so, whether there have also been changes in the social factors that contribute to gender differences in the two health outcomes. Of special interest was to investigate whether women's massive entry into the labour market has led to a narrowing or a widening of gender differences in musculoskeletal pain and psychological distress.