Concepedia

Abstract

Despite 3 decades of dramatic social change adult women regardless of race or ethnicity urban or rural residency age or labor force participation are more likely than men to be poor. Events experienced by millions each year--divorce chronic illness job-related injuries low-wage occupations out-of-wedlock-child-bearing retirement loss of income on the death of a spouse--contribute to the alarming number of women in poverty and the deepening extent of their impoverishment. Although progress has been made in broadening opportunities for self-sufficiency and in improving the quality of services much work remains on behalf of this population. This special issue takes a hard look at the well-being of poor women in North America. It provides a rare opportunity to focus on one of the most pressing but neglected social issues of our time--the injurious health consequences of impoverishment among women.