Gender differences in family support: is there a payoff?

National data for respondents over age 65 revealed that, although women are less likely to be living with a spouse, living arrangements of unmarried women and men are similar. Women live closer to children, receive more phone calls, have marginally more contact but do not receive more mail. Women's receipt of more informal assistance is largely explained by greater need levels, particularly for the unmarried. These findings are discussed in relation to women's roles as family caretaker and kinkeeper at earlier life cycle stages.