ABSTRACT
The national trend toward an increasing number of older persons in the population is more pronounced among black women than black men. In comparison to black and white men and white women, the socioeconomic status of black women remains lower. This chapter concentrates largely upon some demographic and familial characteristics of contemporary older black women. About one-half of older black women reside in homes owned by them or their families. Active labor force participation decreased over time for older black women. Among those still employed, fewer used public transportation, and fewer walked to work. Fewer reported doing paid labor at home. About one-half of the older black women living in families were the chief family breadwinners, though their income was as meager in 1970 as ten years earlier. Fewer and fewer older black women are married and living with husbands. The author found wide diversity, influenced by socioeconomic, marital, and health statuses, as well as number and sex of offspring.
