What has been the general pattern in life expectancy during the 20thcentury with respect to men and women? women outlive men only in a handful of countries. both men and women gained approximately the same amount. men gained more than women in the first half of the century, but dramatic social change in recent decades has meant that women are catching up to men. women gained more than men in the first half of the century but since then men have madegreater gains and the gap is narrowing