Golden for Whom?: Gender and Race Differences in Retirement Income

• Other Authors: Raphael, Alexandra E. (Alexandra Elise) (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Sociology; Gender expression; Study and teaching; Gender identity; Aging
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_2016SU_Raphael_fsu_0071E_13325

In this dissertation, I explore retirement income using a sample of Black and White men and women over age 62 who draw Social Security. I examine three of the main sources of retirement income – Social Security, occupational pensions, and private assets – to understand gender and race variation, including the simultaneous effects of disadvantages experienced based on gender and race. I also explore a comprehensive set of explanations for gender and race variation, specifically experiences related to the paid labor force, family, and health. To guide this research, I draw on two perspectives: cumulative (dis)advantage and welfare state. First, I use the cumulative (dis)advantage perspective to explain how experiences in earlier life can contribute to – and magnify – inequalities in later life. I also draw on the welfare state literature to shed light on the ways labor force, family, and health experiences may contribute to retirement income, and how the welfare state can contribute to gender and race inequalities. Together, these perspectives shed light on gender and race differences in retirement income and possible experiences that contribute to explanations for these differences. Using the 2010 data from Version N of the RAND HRS data file, I conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses, specifically mediation analyses and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition regression analyses. My dissertation has three main findings. First, retirement income varies by gender and race, but race variation is more consistent and substantial. Second, explanations for gender and race variation in retirement income differ based on type of retirement income (e.g., occupational pension coverage), though labor force characteristics most consistently contribute to explanations. Third, explanations for race variation depend on gender and vice-versa, suggesting that experiences matter differently for White women, Black women, White men, and Black men. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Summer Semester 2016. === June 2, 2016. === Includes bibliographical references. === Anne Barrett, Professor Directing Dissertation; Patricia Born, University Representative; John R. Reynolds, Committee Member; Koji Ueno, Committee Member.