Wealth accumulation and retirement preparedness in cross-national perspective: A gendered analysis of outcomes among single adults

Wealth is an increasingly important dimension of economic well-being and is attracting rising attention in discussions of social inequality. In this article, we compare – within and across countries – wealth outcomes, and link those to both employment-related factors and policy solutions that have the potential to improve wealth creation and retirement security for women. By constructing country-specific portraits of wealth outcomes and ‘retirement preparedness’, we reveal extensive cross-national variation in multiple facets of wealth. Our regression analysis finds a statistically significant and positive effect of work experience on wealth, with that effect, in general, increasing over time. The effect of work experience for single women is greater than for single men, suggesting that, among men, other, stronger forces are at work in creating wealth. The retirement preparedness outcomes indicate that single women in all three countries are in a precarious position at retirement, with much lower expected annual wealth levels than single men. The second preparedness indicator, which links expected annual wealth to income, demonstrates that men have the potential to cover larger shares of their income at retirement – and thus are more able, than their female counterparts, to maintain standards of living achieved earlier in life. Our policy discussion indicates that employment remains a viable option for ultimately bolstering women’s wealth accumulation. Many scholars, gender equality advocates and policymakers have argued for raising women’s employment rates – for a multitude of reasons – but few, if any, have made the case for strengthening women’s employment in order to ultimately bolster women’s wealth building. We hope to help reduce the gap in the literature on policy supports for women’s employment and re-open the discussion on how women can create more wealth.

Case Study on the Decision Making of Single Men to Marry Single-Parent Woman

Marriage is a developmental task for individuals in the early adult phase. Normatively for a single man will choose a spouse as a single woman. This research aims to examine the decision-making of single men to marry single-parent women. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach. Data collection was carried out by semi-structured interviews using Miles and Huberman model data analysis techniques, namely the interactive model. The credibility of this research uses triangulation of sources, namely using the closest person to the informant to obtain valid data. There are several findings in the study, the first regarding the criteria of a partner, the second consideration before marriage, the third considers single-parent women as great women, and the fourth is responsibility. This is an essential point as an excuse for single men to marry single-parent women.

O-108 Opinion and perceptions about how new family models conceived through Assisted Reproduction Techniques and parenthood differ between different generations in Argentina

Study question What is the degree of acceptance of new family models using Assisted Reproductive Techniques and what is the childbearing perception among different generations in Argentina Summary answer The youngest accept different family conformations through fertility treatments more than olders. They also consider, in greater proportion, that happiness is not linked to childbearing What is known already (1). Human reproduction changed dramatically in the last 40 years, with the development of Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) (2). In accordance with the new family models, gender diversity, self-acceptance and social openness, unacceptable until recently, are today a new reality. Since 2013, in Argentina, fertility treatments are regulated under National Law No. 26.862, allowing full access to ART regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. (3). However, there is still a legal vacuum around uterine surrogacy, which hinders treatment particularly in male homosexual couples. Study design, size, duration This is a cross-disciplinary descriptive study based on data obtained from an online self-administered survey. We surveyed a sample of 1800 people from the general population during June 2020. Participants/materials, setting, methods A structured and self-administered survey was carried out through OPINAIA (research consultant). Participants answered voluntarily an anonymous online questionnaire. We stratified our population in 4 groups according to different generations that represent the Argentinean population: Centennials (18-25 years), Millennials (26-35 years), Gen X (36-49 years), Baby Boomers (more than 50 years), respectively. We also stratified our sample by gender, socioeconomic level, and geographic location. Main results and the role of chance The data obtained in our survey showed that 92% of our population expressed an agreement to the use of ART for heterosexual couples, 76% for single women, 65% for single men, 62% for female couples and 59% as to male couples. However, when stratifying by generations, we observed that the youngest showed a clear tendency to accept the new family conformation models with respect to the oldest ones. When comparing by generations, Centennials showed a strong agreement for single women (63%), single men (52%), female couples (60%) and male couples (58%). However, Baby Boomers express agreement on single women (33%), single men (24%), female partners (24%), male partners (22%). So, our data reveals that the prejudices concerning the different family conformations models are less among the youngest. We also observe a tendency towards believing that happiness is not related to parenthood by the younger (Centennials 75%, Millennials 67%, X Generation 64%, Baby Boomers 60%). This is a representative sample of the Argentinean populations, based upon official National census. Thus, it accurately represents the local distribution concerning age, gender, socioeconomic level, and geographic location. Limitations, reasons for caution Our investigation is a descriptive and observational study Wider implications of the findings This is the first study about new family models in Latin America. The study sample represents the national population and reflects clearly social trends. Therefore, it allows predicting future scenarios for policy makers to plan effective education strategies and to consider the distribution of public health funds for fertility treatments. Trial registration number not applicable

The LGBT community in Israel: access to the surrogacy procedure and legal right for equality, family life and parenthood

In Israel’s legal system, equality is a fundamental principle. LGBT people in Israel suffer from discrimination due to their sexual orientation and their right to equality, parenting, and family life is impaired. Regarding the surrogacy procedure, the Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that the relevant laws discriminate against LGBT people and their fundamental rights when compared to heterosexual people. The main problem is that the statutes block the access to the surrogacy procedure of single men and male couples, harming their right to equality, right to a family life and parenting. The article suggests adopting the minority ruling of Justice Uzi Vogelman in HCJ 781/15 and declaring the nullity of the sections in the laws that discriminate against single men and male couples. This remedy is a lawful and operative solution for the inequality rooted in the surrogacy arrangements towards homosexuals that want to establish a family and become parents. The expectation from the legislature to amend the law is unrealistic, due to the political construction of the Israeli Knesset (parliament). An innovative approach for the amendment of the inequality towards LGBT people should be the nullity of the discriminating sections of the law.

Which Consumers are Least Likely to Have a Balanced Diet in Japan?

There have been only a few large-scale nationwide studies regarding the frequency of eating a balanced diet consisting of staple food, the main dish, and side dishes in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify factors affecting the frequency of eating a balanced meal that consists of staple food, the main dish, and side dishes twice a day. We analyzed the secondary data of 13,772 responses from the 7-year pooled cross-sectional data of the nationwide Surveys of Attitudes toward Shokuiku (Food and Nutrition Education) by the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Ordered logit regression was used to find factors affecting the frequency of having a balanced diet. Our estimation results suggested that gender, age, cohabitation, eating meals with family, subjective economic status, and residential area could be factors affecting the probability of having balanced meals every day. In conclusion, single men in their 20s-50s, single men in their 80s, older male adults living but not eating together with family, single women in their 20s-30s, and individuals with low economic status were identified as high-risk groups who do not have a balanced diet in Japan. Moreover, we found that the government health promotion program called Kenko Nippon 2013 (Health Japan 21, the second term) did not improve the dietary behavior of the consumer in Japan.

Epidemiological Study of Mortality Caused by Road Accidents in the Intensive Care Unit of Besat Educational-medical Hospital in Hamadan

Introduction: Road accidents are one of the causes of death and it's important to investigate the epidemiological indicators in this context. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological causes of road accident mortality in the intensive care unit of Besat Educational-medical Hospital in Hamadan during Nowruz Holidays 2018. Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, data of the patients died for 13 days in Nowruz Holidays in the intensive care unit of Besat Hospital in Hamadan, by census method, was extracted from the medical records of patients by using a checklist from a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test and SPSS 21 software. Results: Of the 28 Patient admitted to the intensive care unit,16 patients died. Most deaths were in the third decade of life, among single men, with a self-employment job, with diploma education level or cycle education level, with more than 10 days of hospitalization and in the night shift. Based on the results, most of the dead persons were rider (81.25%), suffered head trauma (50%), with head surgery (56.25%), without any underlying illness (93.75%) and without successful experience of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (87.5%). There were no statistically significant differences between the variables and mortality rate (P value > 0/05). Conclusion: Young single men with low level of education are a wide range of road accidents victims. Therefore, it seems it's necessary to reduce mortality from these accidents, health planning such as traffic culture training and driving rules, by using social media, should focus on learning and improving the level of community awareness, especially in this group of people.

Representations of Surrogacy: Feminist and LGBT Controversy over Film and Media

Although transnational surrogacy has received much criticism owing to racial and class issues, the U.S. media portrays domestic surrogacy with overwhelming positive languages by employing specific narrative frameworks. Accompanying this shift, it is not so surprising that the number of gestational carrier cycles have skyrocketed from 727 to 3,423 over the last decade. (Note 1) In particular, increase in the number of gay and single men looking for surrogacy has yielded more controversies. This paper asks the following questions: How does the documentary Made in Boise present surrogacy in the context of a broader debate over feminist and LGBT’s positions? How are gay parents used in the altruism narrative framework to downplay exploitation of surrogacy? By providing insight into the intricate economic and power relationships between surrogate and a new emerging group of intended parents, my case study prompts broader questions such as: How to best document the most authentic narratives of the surrogates? How can feminist and LGBT scholars reconcile their viewpoints over surrogacy? These are pertinent questions concerning exploitation and coercion in the industry, thus influencing future feminists’ studies on reproductive technology and politics.