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Since the 1960s, South Korea has experienced rapid economic development and an improvement in the health of its population. During this period there have been marked increases in women's educational and occupational opportunities. But despite these improvements, women still suffer higher levels of gender discrimination than their counterparts in many other countries at similar stages of development. Most dramatically, there are still high levels of sex-selective abortion. Women have lower socioeconomic status than men, and their lives are markedly restricted by the cultural values associated with Confucianism. This article explores the effects of these factors on women's health. Despite their greater longevity, South Korean women still report higher rates of morbidity and distress than men. This can be compared with the "gender paradox" in health reported in many developed countries during the 1970s and 1980s. More detailed research is needed on the factors influencing the health of South Korean women and on related trends in other newly industrializing Asian societies.

The past decade has seen increasing debate about the impact of globalization or global restructuring on human health. Lesley Doyal examines the threats posed by these developments to some of the world's most vulnerable women. It will also give a brief account of recent campaigns designed to resist the negative effects of these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the need for gender sensitive health policies to prevent a conflict between campaigns promoting men's and women's health issues. How reproductive health has mainly focused on women; Discovery that sex is a determinant in diseases beyond reproductive health; Health hazards to females as a result of social, economic, and cultural factors; Role of masculinity in men's health.