Our Social Security system is gender-neutral, but because women tend to have lower earnings over the course of their working years and longer life expectancies, Social Security is particularly important to women. As women’s participation in the workforce has increased, they have been able to earn vital retirement, disability, and survivors’ protections for themselves and their families. While women have made great strides in the 80 years since Social Security was created, they still rely disproportionately on its vital, but modest benefits. Social Security should not only be protected for our nation’s women; it should be expanded.
