CHAPTER 5
 DISCUSSION

 Much like previous research on labor force exit behavior, results from the presents

study suggest that an array of life course factors are central to the distribution of older

workers across the alternative destination statuses of retirement, and work disability

(Hayward, Grady, Hardy, and Sommers, 1989; Szinovacz, DeViney, and Davey 2001).

However, this study is among the first to utilize longitudinal data to demonstrate that race

is an important predictor of labor force status and labor force exit behavior among

women in late midlife. As hypothesized, among women in the labor force in late middle

age, African Americans have lower rates of retirement and higher risks of work disability

as a result of racial differences in circumstance throughout the life course.

 Results from proportional hazard models demonstrate that racial disparities in labor

force exit behavior stem from racial differences in human capital, health, and wealth

across the life course. In the case of retirement, racial differences in family and economic

circumstance appear to underlie racial disparities. Compared to White women, African

American women are more likely to have ever been single parents, be unmarried, have

more household residents, and are less likely to be married to a spouse in the labor force--

all of which are associated with lower rates of retirement. Once family characteristics are

controlled for, African American and White women have similar rates of retirement.

Household non-housing assets and net value of primary residence also intervene in the

race-retirement relationship. Importantly, racial differences in these two measures are