Tom Harkin: “women in America have made significant strides for equality and fair treatment. They have more opportunities and face…”

“women in America have made significant strides for equality and fair treatment. They have more opportunities and face less discrimination. However, there are still gross inequities, and this is particularly true in Social Security. The average Social Security benefit received by a man is modest, about $10,508 on average in 1998. But for the 21 million American women who depend on Social Security, their average benefit is over 25 percent less, just $7,836 a year. That is 25 percent less to pay for prescription drugs; 25 percent less to pay for food; and 25 percent less to pay for the rent and utilities. Largely as a result of these lower Social Security benefits, elderly women are twice as likely to be poor than older men. Fully, 19 percent of single older women--those who have been widowed, divorced, or never married--live in poverty. There are a number of reasons for this. Women live longer than men. Women earn less during their working years due to wage discrimination and other factors. And women reach retirement with smaller pensions and other assets than men.”