The Horizon For Wise Women On Their Own
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| Also listed in: Democratic Women |
A good deal of data is being collected and analyzed about the increasing numbers of younger and middle aged women living on their own. As such, the matter of aging should be of particular concern to women, especially since older or "wise" women are the ones most likely to be living on their own given their longer life expectancy than men. Indeed, the average life expectancy for women is 84 years of age, whereas for men it is 81 years old. However, men are much more likely than women to be married until their deaths.
"Wise" women (over sixty-five) are particularly vulnerable since many lack the retirement income and assets that men often have accumulated, and will typically face increased health problems without adequate financial or social support. That is why we need to have a social security system that recognizes, and is based upon, the realities of women's lives. This reality consists of women earning approximately seventy-seven cents to every dollar a man earns and encountering sex discrimination in employment without adequate remedies.
President Bush and most Republicans in the House and Senate refuse to do what is necessary to insure a fiscally secure social security system and fair workplace environment that can meet the needs of women, many of whom during the past six years have fallen into poverty as a result of the president's disastrous policies that have favored the extremely wealthy at the expense of the middle class and poor. When nearly two-thirds of women over the age of 65 receive a majority of their income from social security, it is imperative that we elect a president and members to Congress that understand the vital importance of having a social security system that provides a decent standard of living for all Americans.
In just three short years from now, it is estimated that the population will increase to approximately forty million people and in 2020 there will be about fifty-five million people, with 7.3 million being eighty-five years of age or older. Given that the major source of income now for older folks is social secuirty, it is imperative that we insure this system's survival. Again, the only way to do this is by electing Democrats up and down the ballot. While having to grow older is inevitable, living a substandard life during those golden years is not. Let's make sure social security is protected by electing Democrats.
This piece was written by Joanna M. Pucci, WLF intern, and Sharon Grosfeld, Exeuctive Director, WLF.
"Wise" women (over sixty-five) are particularly vulnerable since many lack the retirement income and assets that men often have accumulated, and will typically face increased health problems without adequate financial or social support. That is why we need to have a social security system that recognizes, and is based upon, the realities of women's lives. This reality consists of women earning approximately seventy-seven cents to every dollar a man earns and encountering sex discrimination in employment without adequate remedies.
President Bush and most Republicans in the House and Senate refuse to do what is necessary to insure a fiscally secure social security system and fair workplace environment that can meet the needs of women, many of whom during the past six years have fallen into poverty as a result of the president's disastrous policies that have favored the extremely wealthy at the expense of the middle class and poor. When nearly two-thirds of women over the age of 65 receive a majority of their income from social security, it is imperative that we elect a president and members to Congress that understand the vital importance of having a social security system that provides a decent standard of living for all Americans.
In just three short years from now, it is estimated that the population will increase to approximately forty million people and in 2020 there will be about fifty-five million people, with 7.3 million being eighty-five years of age or older. Given that the major source of income now for older folks is social secuirty, it is imperative that we insure this system's survival. Again, the only way to do this is by electing Democrats up and down the ballot. While having to grow older is inevitable, living a substandard life during those golden years is not. Let's make sure social security is protected by electing Democrats.
This piece was written by Joanna M. Pucci, WLF intern, and Sharon Grosfeld, Exeuctive Director, WLF.
The problem that I see with gender explicit language is the same problem that I currently have as a male single parent. People within the human services field are very prejudiced in their dealings, and gender specific language aids said prejudice.
As the population ages, there will be a natural occurrence of older women seeking Social Security benefits. However, to specifically target the female demographic we would unwittingly exclude males in which may need the same service. I choose not to put elderly males that may need income retirement security through the same pressures that I face today from our human services sector.
Thank you very much for your response to my blog "The Horizon For Wise Women On Their Own." I certainly agree that men must actively oppose the Bush Administration's efforts to privatize social security, since privatization jeopardizes the security of both men and women's benefits. However, the case being made in my submission is that women are particularly vulnerable as a result of the factors I stated, in addition to many other reasons. As such, while privatization would detrimentally affect both women and men, given the employment statistics for women, they would suffer even greater harm if the social security system were to be privatized. Thus, aging is a gender issue. For some excellent information on this issue go to the National Women's Law Center website and click on "Retirement Security."