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Setting the Record Straight: Women and Social Security
Women and Social Security
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Bernard Wasow,
The Century Foundation,
4/1/2002
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The Social Security system is gender-blind. None of its provisions treat women differently from men. But that does not mean that the results are gender-neutral. Various cultural and biological differences add up to the fact that Social Security is much more essential, and a much better deal, for women than for men. Compared to the average man, the average woman works fewer years outside the home, earns less per year, and lives longer after retiring. These differences mean that women depend more than men do on spousal and survivors’ benefits and that a greater proportion of their retirement income comes from Social Security. Switching from today’s Social Security system to a system of private accounts, as some policymakers suggest, would threaten the security of older women in particular.
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Download in PDF format
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Edition: Online
ISBN: bw-040102
Pages: 3
Price: Free
Ordering Information:
The Century Foundation
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