System cheats working women

Despite changes in the American family during the past 70 years--most dramatically, the sharp increase in the number of working women--Social Security's benefit structure remains designed for the single-earner, 1930s-type family. As a matter of fact, under the current system, it is possible that a working woman will receive the benefits of a nonworking woman. In "Social Security Choices for the 21st-Century Woman," Leanne Abdnor, former member of the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, argues that giving women more control over their Social Security savings through personal retirement accounts would correct benefit inequities.

Social Security's inability to keep up with the changing role of women in society has resulted in nothing less than a subsidy for single-earner families, observes Abdnor. Furthermore, rising divorce rates leave millions of women without any legal right to Social Security contributions made during their marriages. In light of those well-accounted shortcomings, Abdnor asserts that allowing individuals the choice to keep a portion of their mandated contributions in a personal retirement account will provide greater social and economic freedom. Oddly, many women's groups, despite a long history of advancing women's choices and opportunities, have denounced personal retirement accounts.

The advocacy groups' opposition is inconsistent with their agenda, Abdnor contends. "Organizations and individuals who have identified themselves as advocates of women's rights should be questioned about their opposition to allowing women choices under Social Security." She finds it ironic "that the largest women's advocacy groups in the United States are flatly opposed to giving women the right to have a choice between the existing insolvent system and one that gives them more control and ownership of their retirement funds.

"After all," she concludes, "this is ultimately a question of choice."

COPYRIGHT 2004 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group