The retirement gender gap

Women in general, and older women in particular, have been at a significant disadvantage when it comes to building up a private pension income. Having had lower lifetime earnings than men or than younger women, they had less opportunity to save in private pensions. Older women typically spent more years at home caring for children, and were lower paid if they worked, while occupational and private pensions have historically discriminated against women. For example, it used to be legal for employers to require women to leave the scheme as soon as they married and part-time workers were ex...