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Gender Issues in an Ageing Society
Author(s) -
Austen Siobhan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australian economic review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-8462
pISSN - 0004-9018
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8462.12188
Subject(s) - redress , spouse , life expectancy , workforce , inequality , ageing society , gerontology , ageing , gender inequality , demographic economics , sociology , psychology , political science , economic growth , economics , demography , medicine , mathematical analysis , population , mathematics , anthropology , law
Many aspects of our ageing society are deeply gendered. The number of older women is substantially larger than the number of older men. Women are also more likely than men to live the latter part of their life without a spouse. Relatedly, they are more likely than men to be involved in caring for other ill or disabled older family members. This article examines how the combination of gender differences in life expectancy, marriage, care roles, workforce participation and current policy settings combine to produce gender inequality in old age. It identifies policy measures to redress this imbalance.