Women and SS Retirement Since

Women and SS Retirement

Since its inception in 1935, in the midst of the great depression, Social Security has been debated and frequently reformed, usually on a fiscal level, rather than on a level that better meets the needs of the changing population. (Kingson & Berkowitz, 1993, p. 27) (Shlaes, 1999, p. 38) in the past the arguments about social security in regards to women and where they fit into it, is that the labor of women is largely unpaid, in the sense that women frequently stayed home and labored for the good of the family, and social security is based on the idea of replacing at least a part of the financial earnings of an individual when they can no longer work.

The loss of the mother's ability to cook, clean and care for children would be a loss that would go without compensation. Additionally many argued at its inception that private pension plans included provisions that helped women, regardless of work status, many containing earlier retirement ages for women and a wife benefit, while the federal plan did not. The argument did not receive weight simply because it excluded women, but instead because it was brought up in concern that individuals might utilize the opt out option in the legislation which might create a competitive system, between the government and private pension providers. (Kingson & Berkowitz, 1993, p. 36) (Hoar, 2006, p. 43) in the modern world the majority of women work outside the home, though there is still pay discrepancy and therefore this argument is not as strong. (Nelson & Bridges, 1999, p. 1)

Yet, the pay inequality between the gender's does effect the outcome of payment as women, even heads of households tend to make significantly less money than male contemporaries so basing compensation on previous earnings clearly disadvantages women, especially when the payment system in play is significantly lower than the real wages of the individual. (Gregory, 2003, p. 8) in an attempt to create an equitable system, the systems has created rifts that continue to disadvantage women. (Hoar, 2006, p. 43) Additionally women are disadvantaged in that many receive compensation based on death benefits of their previously earning spouse, yet when they remarry their benefit ends, leaving many women making hard life choices about moving on with their lives once a spouse has died. (Iams & Ycas, 1988, p.3) This problem is then exacerbated by the fact that both women and men are living longer and women live significantly longer than men. (Shlaes, 1999, p. 38) Additionally, many women are in poverty, including those who are married and single, in part as a result of inequality of pay, as well as an increased divorce rate that leaves women without the ability to live in a culture that demands two wage earners in each family to stay above water. (Berrick, 1997, p. 33)

From its inception social security and social welfare in general stressed the work ethic over all others, creating a system that rewarded those who made greater wages than those who made less. The value of such a system, in theory creates a workforce that is more likely to produce than not, while in reality creates a system that underserved a major portion of the population, many of whom are women, often with dependant children.

The lack of attention to poor women in the social welfare literature reflects several things including a preoccupation with the work ethic, an acceptance of the nuclear family as the only viable family unit, and minimal research interest in the well-being of poor women. From the start, social welfare policy has been shaped by the work ethic and the belief that the provision of benefits to able-bodied persons will weaken their motivation to work. As a result, the cash assistance programs including Social Security benefits, Unemployment Insurance, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) enforce the work ethic either by rewarding higher paid workers over those who earn less or by encouraging able-bodied persons to choose paid labor (no matter what the wage levels or working conditions) over government aid. (Abramovitz, 1988, p. 1)

The desperation that is associated with seeking public assistance, even when the opt out option does not exist, and private pension plans have declined in popularity as other forms of retirement compensation have taken their place, and more and more people are required to simply save for their old age, no matter what. The social security system does not adequately meet the needs of the population it was designed to help and this is especially true of women.