The Changing Nature of Women's Poverty:
An Analysis
of Two Cohorts of African-American and White Women
Susan Thistle
Abstract
Comparison of two cohorts of African-American and
white women, in 1972 and 1987 respectively, reveals poverty has
dropped sharply across cohorts for both races. For both groups,
the explanation is tied primarily to increased labor force attachment
and, among African-American unmarried women, increased returns to
such attachment. However, while poverty has lessened, the gap between
poor and other unmarried women has widened, especially among African-American
women. Use of longitudinal data reveals this is due in part to a
changing relationship between work experience, wages, education,
and occupations. While increasing numbers of women are gaining access
to the labor force, others are being left behind in deteriorating
circumstances.
Susan Thistle, Department
of Sociology, Northwestern University (visiting)
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