Saving ourselves: gender issues in making provision for one's own retirement

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated gender differences in making provision for retirement and the factors associated with a lower likelihood of saving. Method: Non-retired adults aged between 40 and 62.5 years (N = 382) were selected from a larger postal survey of Pakeha/New Zealand European adults over the age of 40 in the greater Wellington region of New Zealand. Results: Overall, women were less likely to save for their own retirement than were men, however this gender difference was no longer significant when income was taken into account. Those less likely to be making provision for their own retirement included individuals with poor health and lower income, and women who had divorced or who provided care. Conclusions: The relative economic position and social roles of women may engender vulnerability to economic dependence in later life.