Quality of life is not wonderful for older female Australians. Susan Feldman and Harriet Radermacher from Monash University ask what’s going wrong, and what can be done.
The implications for women of the world’s rapidly ageing population are profound. The gender inequalities they have experienced throughout their lives cumulate and become more visible as they grow older.
Australia lags behind most other developed countries when it comes to the economic and social well-being of people over 60. While the health status of older Australians is very good (fifth), we rank 17th overall and 67th for income security on a list of 96 countries.
The numbers are even more alarming for Australian women. In 2011, 34% of single women over 60 were in permanent income poverty, compared to 29% of single men and 24% of couples.
Higher incidences of poverty among older women are rooted in their employment histories, which have often been disrupted and part-time. By age 65, women retire on average with about one-third of the superannuation that men accrue. Government benefits account for 60% of their income.
In a recent study we examined the social and economic disadvantages and vulnerabilities confronting women as they grow older. The study identified a need for innovative strategies and programs to improve older women’s quality of life.
A complex mix of circumstances, such as the casualisation of the workforce, the superannuation system and the prevalence of family violence, serve to discriminate against women across their lives.
Combined with unexpected events such as the loss of employment, illness and injury, family breakdown and crisis related to divorce and widowhood, these elements can threaten older women’s access to secure, affordable housing and present other serious challenges in both the short and longer term.
New and innovative solutions are required to solve the age-old problem of gender inequality. While there has been a resurgence of interest in raising awareness and creating social change, we need to embrace new ways of thinking for future strategies to effectively tackle the disadvantage accumulated over a woman’s lifespan.
What can be done?
Participants in our research shared innovative ideas. These included:
-
creative housing models that forge relationships between land and housing developers and all levels of government
-
private rental housing initiatives
-
partnerships with industry to create employment and lifelong learning opportunities for older women
-
educational programs targeting young women in the first instance, focused on enhancing financial literacy and expertise.