Ageing Women in a Welfare State

In welfare states in Europe the social security systems have generally incorporated gender biases that adversely affect women's life course destiny that culminates in the 'elderly women' syndrome. Some interesting trends are evident in the Netherlands, where although the state has trimmed social security in many ways, its emancipatory policies have been moving in the direction of redressing gender inequalities. In the context of the emerging information on the status of elderly women in India the course of welfare legislation in the Netherlands and the context which prompted it may provide some pointers.