Final answer:
The greatest risk of poverty among older women is found among women of color, due to systemic issues and employment inequities. Single mothers also face substantial poverty risks because of additional caretaking costs and limited support systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among older women, the risk of poverty is greatest among women of color. This demographic challenge stems from historical inequities in employment, education, and earnings. Women of color often face higher rates of poverty due to systemic issues such as the wage gap, discrimination, and barriers to employment opportunities. Additionally, single mothers, regardless of race, typically struggle with financial hardships, as they carry the sole responsibility for both caregiving and earning an income, often compounded by inadequate support systems.
The phenomenon known as the feminization of poverty describes how women disproportionately represent the majority of individuals living in poverty globally. Studies have shown that, in the United States, around 56 percent of Americans living in poverty are women, with single mothers being particularly vulnerable. Financial constraints are intensified by additional caregiving expenses such as childcare, which detract from the economic gains of working, exacerbating the poverty trap and limiting the ability to accumulate job experience and financial stability.