This article explores the gender paradox (ie. in most countries, females have higher rates of suicide ideation & behaviour than males, yet mortality is higher for males), examines its validity, & critically examines some common explanations, concluding that the gender paradox is a real phenomenon & not an artifact of data collection. This paradox is more culture-bound than has been assumed; cultural expectations about gender & suicidal behaviours strongly determine its existence. (99 refs.)