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Older women and poverty
1Graduate School of Social Work, Boston College, McGuinn Hall, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167.
Social Work
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Many older women face financial insecurity, particularly those widowed or living alone. Proposed Social Security benefit cuts risk worsening poverty for elderly women reliant on this income.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Social Policy
- Economics
Background:
- The "greening of the aged" perception inaccurately suggests widespread financial security among elders.
- Older women's economic well-being is significantly influenced by marital status, with single, widowed, and divorced women facing higher poverty rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the economic vulnerability of older women, challenging the "greening of the aged" myth.
- To analyze the potential impact of Social Security benefit reductions on elderly women's financial stability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of economic data concerning older women's financial status.
- Review of policy proposals related to Social Security benefits and federal budget deficits.
Main Results:
- Older women, especially those widowed or living alone, experience significant poverty.
- Reductions in Social Security benefits would disproportionately harm older women who depend on it as their primary income source.
Conclusions:
- The financial security of older women is precarious and often overlooked.
- Policy decisions regarding Social Security must consider the severe economic consequences for vulnerable elderly women, advocating against benefit cuts that exacerbate poverty.