Retired or Homemaker:

Abstract

In this study we exolore the role definitions that older women choose for themselves and the sociodemographic factors and activities that differentiate women who choose different labels. Of 864 black and white women from a 1986 national survey, 197 defmed themselves as both retired and homemaker; 363 called themselves homemakers only and 304 retired only. Marital status, having a retired spouse, hours of housework, education, and having been employed after age 51 significantly differentiated the groups. Retired homemakers were similar to homemakers on the first three factors and similar to the retired on the remaining two. The forced classification of these in-between women into only one role may explain contradictory results in past comparisons of retired women and homemakers.