The growing differential in life expectancy between men and women in the United States in the twentieth century is noted. Two explanatory perspectives are identified, the biogenetic and the psychosocial. The contemporary emerging analysis of the male role is related to the psychosocial perspective. Methodological problems in evaluating alternative perspectives are identified. Evidence for both views is examined, and it is concluded that the best available evidence confirms the psychosocial perspective that sex‐role socialization accounts for the larger part of men's shorter life expectanc