The Hidden Injustices of Widowhood Part 2: The Layers and Busting Myths

Telling the truth about widowhood

As promised, I am sharing what I’ve witnessed and heard in one comprehensive list on the many injustices and discriminations against women in widowhood in the U.S.

Worth repeating…what do we mean by ‘injustice’?

Injustice, in a general sense, refers to the violation of what is considered right and just, or a violation of someone's rights. It can be a general state of affairs (like societal injustice) or a specific act (like a discriminatory act). The term is often used in political, social, and legal contexts, highlighting situations where fairness and equality are absent.

How did we get here?

Couples-Centric Society Structure: Our entire social and economic framework assumes the nuclear family model - two-parent households, dual incomes, shared decision-making, and couples as the standard social unit. Everything from restaurant seating to insurance policies to social events is designed around pairs.

When women become widowed, they're suddenly operating in a system that wasn't built for them.

Embedded Patriarchal Standards: The discrimination goes deeper because these systems were historically designed by and for men, with women expected to be dependents rather than autonomous decision-makers. Even decades after women's liberation, the underlying assumptions persist:

• Financial institutions still treat women as secondary earners

• Service providers assume men handle "technical" decisions

• Legal systems were built when women had limited property rights

• Social structures still view single women as incomplete or temporary

The Double Burden: Widowed women face a uniquely harsh intersection - they're penalized for being single in a couples-centric world AND for being women in a male-dominated system. They lose the "protection" of male partnership (if in a male female relationship) while gaining none of the respect accorded to men operating independently.

Historical Legacy: Many of these injustices stem from laws and customs from when women couldn't own property, open bank accounts, or make legal decisions. While the laws changed, the cultural attitudes and institutional practices often didn't.

This graphic will essentially map how deeply these patriarchal, couples-centric assumptions have infected every corner of society - making widowhood not just a personal tragedy, but a systematic disadvantage.

Workplace / Employment

• Discrimination in the Workplace

  • Bias due to widowhood, grief, caregiving responsibilities, or perceived emotional instability

  • Age and gender discrimination during hiring or career advancement

• Bereavement and Leave Policies

  • Lack of adequate or paid bereavement leave

  • Inflexibility for caregiving or estate management responsibilities

• Career Disruption

  • Interrupted career paths due to caregiving or bereavement

  • Loss of professional momentum and earning potential

• Educational / Professional Development

  • Barriers to returning to school or workforce

  • Limited access to retraining or upskilling programs

• Business / Entrepreneurship

  • Difficulty securing business loans or credit as a single applicant

  • Challenges in transferring professional licenses

  • Inheritance complications in family-owned businesses

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Finances / Insurance

• Insurance Access and Loss

  • Being dropped from spouse’s policies

  • Difficulty obtaining affordable new coverage

  • Claims disputes or coverage gaps due to marital status change

• Banking / Credit

  • Loss of joint credit history affecting score

  • Frozen or inaccessible joint accounts during probate

  • Discrimination in loan and mortgage applications

• Tax / IRS

  • Loss of "married filing jointly" benefits, “surviving spouse” only 2 years

  • Complicated estate tax filing

  • Targeted audits following spousal loss

• Investment / Retirement

  • Pension survivor benefit confusion

  • Financial advisor bias ("mansplaining" in some cases)

  • Exclusion from investment groups

• Retail / Consumer Discrimination

  • Overcharging for major purchases or home services

  • Vulnerability to scams and high-pressure sales tactics

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Housing / Home Services

• Housing / Real Estate