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Statistics show that women live longer than men, and that they constitute a substantial majority of the North American population over age 50. But more research has been done on the lives of older men, and the lack of empirical data on aging women has perpetuated a number of myths and stereotypes. Twenty years ago, for example, there was a presumption that only males worked and only males retired, though women often held jobs outside the home and these jobs were sometimes their only source of income. Studies of retirement, therefore, rarely treated the experience of women. Many fallacies still remain, despite a growing body of research conducted by women investigators. This reference provides a comprehensive overview of current research on women and aging and helps correct many mistaken assumptions.
Chapters are written by expert contributors and are grouped in several broad sections. The first section provides a historical and theoretical perspective on women and aging and covers topics such as sexism and ageism, representations of older women in the arts, and the attitudes of society toward aging women. The second section treats economic issues related to employment and retirement. The third section explores the psychological and physical health of women and includes related information on topics such as voluntarism and religious activity. The fourth section looks at the particular concerns of women from diverse racial and ethnic groups. It also includes a chapter on the special needs of the rural elderly. The final section studies the relationships of older women, including the impact of widowhood and the significance of friendship patterns. Each chapter cites current research and the volume closes with a selected bibliography of major studies.
Sommario
Foreword
Preface
Introduction by Jean M. Coyle
Historical and Theoretical PerspectivesSexism and Ageism by Erdman B. Palmore
Images of Middle-Aged and Older Women: Historical, Cultural, and Personal by Susan R. Sherman
Witches, Widows, Wives, and Workers: The Historiography of Older Women in America by Carole Haber
Images of Aging Women through the Years by Mary F. Grizzard
Sagacious, Sinful, or Superfluous?: The Social Construction of Older Women by Elizabeth W. Markson
Economic IssuesThe Economic Status of Older Women by Rose M. Rubin
Middle-Aged and Older Women in the Work Force by John C. Rife
Retirement and Women by Frances M. Carp
Health, Psychological, and Living IssuesThe Health of Older Women: A Diverse Experience by Diana J. Torrez
Developmental Models of Midlife and Aging in Women: Metaphors for Transcendence and for Individuality in Community by Jan D. Sinnott
Life Satisfaction and Older Women: Factor Structure Consistency among Age Cohorts by B. Jan McCulloch
Reminiscence among Older Women by Debra McDonald and Eileen Deges Curl
Suicidal Behavior in Middle-Aged and Older Women by Nancy J. Osgood and Marjorie J. Malkin
Women Survivors: The Oldest Old by Sally Bould and Charles F. Longino
Religion and Faith Development of Older Women by Barbara P. Payne-Stancil
Voluntarism Among Older Women by Winifred Dowling
Living Arrangements for Midlife and Older Women by Frances M. Carp
Racial, Ethnic, and Demographic IssuesMidlife and Older Black Women by Penny A. Ralston
Hidden Lives: Aging and Contemporary American Indian Women by Robert John, Patrice H. Blanchard, and Catherine Hagan Hennessy
Issues and Trends Affecting Asian Americans, Women, and Aging by Darlene Yee
Chicanas and Aging: Toward Definitions of Womanhood by Elisa Facio
Rural Older Women by Vira R. Kivett
RelationshipsFamily Relationships of Midlife and Older Women by Jean Pearson Scott
Single Women in Later Life by Richard L. Newtson and Pat M. Keith
Friendship Patterns Among Older Women by Rebecca G. Adams
Older Women and the Experience of Widowhood by Julia Bradsher
Women and Caregivers for the Elderly by Sally Bould
Fathers, Daughters, and Caregiving: Perspectives from Psychoanalysis and Life-Course Social Science by Bertram J. Cohler
Conclusions and Research Implications by Jean M. Coyle
Bibliography
Index
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Jean M. Coyle
