ABSTRACT
To truly understand women’s retirement experiences, it is necessary to not only treat the retirement transition as an important event in women’s lives but to consider and account for differences in the conditions and consequences the retirement transition has for men and women. This chapter provides an overview of the unique factors affecting women's retirement. It addresses the following issues: conditions of the retirement experience; consequences of the retirement transition; and policy implications. The chapter shows that gender differences in work history as well as the continued disadvantaged position of women in regard to occupational careers, wages, and retirement benefits render the retirement experience significantly different for men and women. Many women view their midlife work as a special challenge and opportunity and, consequently, are often not only financially but also psychologically not ready to retire when they reach retirement age or when their husbands retire.
