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JOYS AND PERILS OF OLD AGE FOR WOMEN

JOYS AND PERILS OF OLD AGE FOR WOMEN. Mary C. Sengstock, Ph.D, C.C.S. Professor of Sociology Wayne State University. Older Women: Pluses & Minuses. PLUSES: Live Longer Than Men Less Disruption, Changes in Roles, Than Men MINUSES: Financial Preparation for Old Age Inadequate

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JOYS AND PERILS OF OLD AGE FOR WOMEN

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  1. JOYS AND PERILS OF OLD AGE FOR WOMEN Mary C. Sengstock, Ph.D, C.C.S. Professor of Sociology Wayne State University

  2. Older Women: Pluses & Minuses • PLUSES: • Live Longer Than Men • Less Disruption, Changes in Roles, Than Men • MINUSES: • Financial Preparation for Old Age Inadequate • Problems of Old Age Related to “Women’s Place”

  3. Life Expectancy in U.S. • Current Life Expectancy: 76.7 yrs. • Projection for 2020: 77.6 yrs • Differential Life Expectancy: Men, Women • Formerly: Men Lived Longer • Dangers in Childbirth • Current: Women Live Longer • Average: 6 yrs longer • Due to Increased Mother-Child Health

  4. Change/Disruption in Old Age • Men: Great Disruption: • Mid-Life: Full-Time Employment; “Control” • Old Age: “Retired” – Lack of Control • Women: Less Disruption: • Mid-Life: Family Responsibilities • Increasingly Includes Employment • “Retirement” – Continues Family Roles, Responsibilities – Less Change

  5. Socialization into Old Age • All Roles Have Expectations • Preparation for Jobs, Parenting • “Anticipatory Socialization”  Adjustment • Men & Retirement: • Little Preparation for Retirement, “Old Age” • Women & Retirement: • What Retirement? – Maybe from Employment • Family Roles Remain: • House; Spouse; Children; Grandchildren; Siblings

  6. Physical & Life Changes • Men: Have Physical Changes in Old Age • If Live Long Enough • Not Used to Physicians, Medications • Women: Used to Many Changes: • Puberty & Menstruation • Pregnancy & Childbirth • “Empty Nest” Phenomenon • Menopause (Long Before Retirement) • Aging Changes? What Else Is New?

  7. Conclusions – the Pluses • Women – Used to Accepting Change Throughout Life • “Socialized” to Adapting to New Situations • Retirement & Old Age Changes – Just Another Phase! • Multi-Tasking – a Pattern Throughout Life • Old Age – More of the Same! • Not A Dramatic Change

  8. The Minus: “Women’s Place” Many of Women’s Problems in Old Age: Stem from “Women’s Place” • Patriarchal Social Structure • Secondary Social Status • Limited Financial Resources for Women • Lower Income Jobs • Less Social Security: Low Income; Spouse Benefit • No Pensions or Lower Pensions • Inability to Get Credit

  9. Special Problems of Older Women • Women >65 Are Nearly ¾ of Elderly Poor • 13% of Older Women Are in “Poverty” • “Poverty” – U.S. Census Definition: • Single Adult <65: $9,359 • Single Adult >65: $8,628 • Assumption: Food & Necessities Are Less for Older Adults (Make Sense?)

  10. Older Women’s Income • Less Than Men’s Pre & Post Retirement • Post Retirement: • Men: Mean=$29K Women: Mean=$15K • Marriage, Children  Shorter/No Work Life • Lower Wage Jobs • Jobs Not Covered by Social Security • Income Peaks @ 44 (vs 55 for Men) • Small or No Pensions (Jobs Not Covered) • Women Live Longer  Savings Run Out

  11. Social Security for Women • Mean Years Worked to Get Maximum Benefits = 35 yrs • Mean Years Worked for Women = 11 yrs • Most Receive Dependent Benefits Under Husband • Spousal Benefits Are Less (1/2 of Primary Beneficiary’s) • Many Retire Early with Older Husbands • So Get Lower Social Security, Pensions

  12. Delaying Social Security • Workers Can Increase Benefit By Delaying Receipt of Benefits Past 65 • Credit for Each Month Past 65 Not Retired • Widows Dependent on Benefits Under Husband Do Not Have this Option

  13. Social Security for Divorced Women • Can Now Get Benefits Under Former Husband’s Social Security – IF: • Marriage Lasted at Least 10 Years • Ex-Husband is at Least 62 • Ex-Husband is Receiving Social Security If She is Older Than He, or if He Has Not Yet Retired, She Must Wait – Which Can Create Financial Difficulty

  14. Pensions – Who Has Them? • Depends on Work History: • Work for Company with Pension Plan • Work in a Job the Pension Covers • Worked long Enough for the Pension to “Vest” (usually 10 years) • Company does Not Sell Out • May or May Not Have Survivor Benefits

  15. Older Women & Pensions • Few Older Women Have Own Pensions • Never Had Jobs with Pension Coverage • Didn’t Work Long Enough to Have One • May Not Have Husband’s Pension Either: • He May Not Have Lived to Retire • Did Not Select Survivor Benefits

  16. Pension Survivor Benefitsfor Dependents • Wives Get Survivor Benefits ONLY If: • Husband Lived to Retire • Retiree & Wife Remain Married • Husband is Willing to Accept Reduced Benefits So Wife Gets Survivor Benefits • ERISA: Bill Required that Wife Sign Off • No Evidence Her Decision is “Free” • No Such Protection for State Plans

  17. Older Widows & Savings • Older Widows Are Especially Poor • Couples Must “Spend Down” to Provide for Husband’s Final Illness Expenses • All Savings Are Used Up – Nothing Is Left for Her After He Dies – • Neither Pension Nor Savings

  18. Summary of the Financial Status of Older Women Women Who Did What Society Required: • Stay Home; Don’t Work • Care for Husband & Children • Depend on Husband • At Great Risk in Old Age: • No Pension • Lower Social Security • DESTITUTE!

  19. Problems of Gender Differences For Married Couples: • Retirement & Moving: • Men Want to Move – Women Want to Stay! Differential Widowhood: • Women: “Anticipate” Being Widowed • Anticipatory Socialization; Have Cohort Supports • Little Chance to Remarry • Men: Totally Unprepared • More Likely to Remarry • Maybe Dangerously!

  20. The “Oldest Old” Women • PLUSES – More Likely Than Men to: • Be Close to Offspring • Have Social Supports • MINUSES – More Likely Than Men to: • Be Left Alone • “Out-Live” Finances • Have Out-Lived Friends

  21. Gender Policy Issues • Poor Provider? Should Choose Better! • Working Women – Should Stay Home! • Widows: Should Have Cared for Him Better! • Divorced: Better Wife – He’d Have Stayed! • No Survivor Benefits? His Decision! • ERISA: She Signs Off –He Still Controls. • Medication: Insurance Pays For Viagra (Even At 90!) – But Not Birth Control Pills!

  22. Overview – Aged Women • Discrimination Against Women Continues into Old Age • Many Problems Related to Earlier Discrimination • “Women’s Role” Continuous Through Life • Leads to Financial Problems for Women • Continuation of Family Roles, Activities

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