Examines problems of being old, poor, and female in the United States. Explores structural roots of the feminization of poverty with attention to sexual division of labor, dual labor market economy, and notions of dependency and deservingness in American society. Discusses budget cuts and implications for research, practice, and policy.…

Data from the 1980, 1970, and 1960 censuses were used to describe Pennsylvania's rural women and to compare them with urban women and, in some instances, men. In Pennsylvania in 1980, just 1 rural woman in 25 lived on a farm. These women were more educated, more active in the labor force, and somewhat better paid than their counterparts in 1960…