Abstract
The relationships between marital status, proximity of children, and attitudes toward retirement of 432 men and 373 women on the verge of retirement were studied. Three dimensions of attitudes were examined: attitudes toward losses associated with retirement, toward gains in entering retirement, and toward gains in leaving work. Women hold significantly more positive attitudes toward both types of gains; there are no gender differences concerning attitudes toward losses. The married of both sexes perceive more gains in entering retirement. Proximity of children is curvilinearly related to gain in entering retirement, especially among women. Attitudes toward losses and gains in leaving work are not associated with familial state. The meaning of work and the myth of the primacy of family for women are discussed.
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This paper draws on research supported by Grant Number 1 R01 AG 05206-01 from the National Institute on Aging.
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Anson, O., Antonovsky, A., Sagy, S. et al. Family, gender, and attitudes toward retirement. Sex Roles 20, 355–369 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287996
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287996