Search Policy & Research

Advanced Search

From the Databases

On aarp.org

Read the latest news from the AARP Bulletin
Find consumer information on aarp.org

Email Newsletter

Get updates on Policy & Research by email.

Topics in Demographic Groups

Boomers
Minorities

Minorities

SHOW: Select document type to filter by

All Documents
Research Reports
Fact Sheets
Speeches

News Releases
Congressional Testimony
Legal Dockets
Opinion

SORT BY: Date | Title

In Brief: From Work to Retirement: Tracking Changes in Women’s Poverty Status / Research Report
February 2008— Although poverty among older adults is lower than that of other age groups, poverty is twice as high among older women as among older men, and three times as high among older African American women as among older white women. This brief synopsis of a study for AARP’s Public Policy Institute demonstrates how poverty status among women changes over the life course and is influenced by race, marital status, health status, work experience, and poverty in earlier life. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB156)

From Work to Retirement: Tracking Changes in Women’s Poverty Status / Research Report
February 2008— Although poverty among older adults is lower than that of other age groups, poverty is twice as high among older women as among older men, and three times as high among older African American women as among older white women. This study for AARP’s Public Policy Institute demonstrates how poverty status among women changes over the life course and is influenced by race, marital status, health status, work experience, and poverty in earlier life. (43 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-03)

Spirituality and Religion among Hispanics Age 40+ / Research Report
November 2007— That 41% of Hispanics are practicing Catholics, 29% Protestants, and 28% former Catholics are among the findings of this February-March 2007 AARP bi-lingual telephone survey of Hispanics age 40 and over living in the United States. The study includes patterns of religious affiliation, things that Catholics value about their church, reasons former Catholics left the Church, and challenges of transmitting faith to the new generation. (139 pages)

African Americans Age 65 and Older: Their Sources of Retirement Income in 2005 / Research Report
September 2007— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet looks at sources of income for African Americans age 65+ and finds they rely on Social Security far more than retirees as a whole. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2006 Current Population Survey, PPI’s Ke Bin Wu analyzes the poverty rates and distribution of income sources by sex. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS137)

Hispanics Age 65 and Older: Sources of Retirement Income in 2005 / Research Report
September 2007— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet looks at sources of income for Hispanics age 65+ and finds they rely on Social Security far more than retirees as a whole. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2006 Current Population Survey, PPI’s Ke Bin Wu analyzes the poverty rates and distribution of each income source by sex. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS135)

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates among Medicare Beneficiaries / Research Report
June 2007— Despite Medicare’s coverage of influenza and pneumonia vaccinations, immunization rates among beneficiaries is less than optimal, with even lower rates among African Americans and Hispanics, according to this 2007 AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Lynda Flowers that discusses factors contributing to immunization disparities and highlights federal and state initiatives to address them. (6 pages) (Publication ID: IB83)

2006 AARP Texas Survey: Comparing Awareness of Non-Hispanic and Hispanic AARP Texas Members / Research Report
April 2007— The concerns, priorities and interests of Texas Hispanic and non-Hispanic AARP members are explored and compared in this late 2006 mail survey of 1,153 Lone Star State AARP members which also defines their awareness of AARP. (57 pages)

A Survey of African-American Likely Voters in South Carolina / Research Report
April 2007— For this April 2007 random telephone survey by AARP and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, 700 African American likely voters in South Carolina were asked to identify the domestic concerns and crucial issues they want presidential candidates to address in campaigning for the state’s January 2008 primary. (28 pages)

AARP 2006 Prescription Drug Study with Hispanics and African Americans / Research Report
April 2007— State legislative actions to adopt preferred drug lists and purchase prescription drugs in bulk are strongly supported by Hispanics and African Americans surveyed by AARP in December 2006. The telephone survey of 2,000 age 18+ Hispanics and African Americans reveals their widespread concern about being able to pay for medications over the next two years. (53 pages)

AARP Segunda Juventud Assisted Living and Long-Term Care Study / Research Report
March 2007— Few 40-plus Hispanics have experienced long-term care in a professional facility for themselves or their family. However, many have had someone in their family who required care at home from a family member, friend, or health care professional, according to this March 2007 AARP telephone survey of 551 age 40+ Hispanics. (12 pages)

AARP Segunda Juventud Hispanic Retirement Study: Financial Matters / Research Report
March 2007— A 2007 AARP omnibus survey of Hispanics ages 40-74 explores issues related to retirement including which sources of income they feel fairly certain they can rely on in retirement, and how their saving for retirement compares with that of their parents’ generation. (10 pages)

Hispanic Sleep Study / Research Report
May 2006— While there is disagreement about whether sleep needs decline with age or remain constant over the adult lifespan, many older adults report being less satisfied with the sleep they’re getting. Of 487 Hispanics in this AARP telephone survey, 67 percent of those age 40+ say they’re sleeping enough, but the percentage drops to 57 among those age 50+. (6 pages)

Prescription Drug Affordability: AARP Survey of Hispanic New Yorkers / Research Report
February 2006— Hispanic New Yorkers are adamant supporters of legislation that would address prescription drug affordability by allowing the state to implement a preferred drug list and to establish a bulk purchasing program. The telephone survey was conducted in November 2005 among age 18+ individuals in the New York City metropolitan area who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. (15 pages)

Multicultural Study 2004 - Perspectives Past, Present and Future: Traditional and Alternative Financial Practices of the 45+ Community / Research Report
March 2006— Spending, saving and borrowing patterns of age 45+ consumers – with an emphasis on past and future financial activities including purchasing homes, saving for retirement, and paying medical bills – are explored in this multicultural AARP telephone survey of 2,609 midlife and older individuals.

Sus vidas y amores…(Their Lives and Loves…) Latino Singles At Midlife and Beyond / Research Report
August 2005— Commissioned by AARP’s Spanish language and bilingual magazine, AARP Segunda Juventud, this research looks into midlife and older Hispanics’ thoughts and feelings about what it means to be single or divorced and dating and offers insights about how AARP and the community can develop services, products, or programs to meet their interests and needs. (114 pages) (Publication ID: D18324)

Hispanics 65 and Older: Sources of Retirement Income / Research Report
November 2004— How age 65+ Hispanics’ income sources compare to that of other older Americans is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu who find that they have fewer retirement income sources and twice the poverty rate of others in the same cohort, and that Social Security is relied upon by older Hispanics far more than by retirees as a whole. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS101)

African Americans Age 65 and Older: Their Sources of Income / Fact Sheet
September 2004— The poverty status of -- and sources of retirement income for -- older African Americans in comparison with the economic security of the overall age 65+ population is presented by Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet underlining the importance of Social Security. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS100)

AARP The Magazine and LCCR Release Landmark Race Relations Survey Marking 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education / News Release
April 2004— Among key findings: Majority of whites, blacks and Hispanics support affirmative action and 73% of Americans approve of interracial marriage.

AARP and LCCR Announce the Official Launch of VoicesofCivilRights.org / News Release
March 2004— AARP and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) announce the official launch of www.VoicesofCivilRights.org.

AARP and LCCR Honor Civil Rights Era Journalists / News Release
February 2004— AARP and LCCR honor civil rights era journalists.

AARP and LCCR Building World’s Largest Civil Rights Archive / News Release
February 2004— AARP and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) today are unveiling a project to build the world’s largest archive of first-hand accounts of the civil rights struggle in America.

Social Security and Women: Some Facts / Fact Sheet
October 2003— More than 90 percent of American women receive Social Security benefits in old age. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, Sara Rix and Laurel Beedon provide data on female beneficiaries and tell why Social Security is particularly important and valuable to women. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS96)

Retirement Coverage of Women and Minorities: Analysis From SIPP 1998 Data / Research Report
October 2003— Using the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data, this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Satyendra Verma discusses current pension and overall retirement coverage of women (during their working careers) by marital status, race, and age. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD92)

Social Security and Hispanics: Some Facts / Fact Sheet
September 2003— Social Security is particularly important to older Hispanics, more than 75 percent of whom receive benefits. This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu provides data and discussion about Hispanic beneficiaries and the value of Social Security in providing protection for workers and their families should the worker become disabled, retire or die. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS95)

Lean on Me: Support and Minority Outreach for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren / Research Report
September 2003— How best to provide grandparents who are raising their grandchildren with the information they need is explored in this report from AARP Knowledge Management and The Grandparent Information Center. Approaches considered include support groups and outreach to African American, Hispanic and Native American caregiving grandparents. (56+ pages)

Social Security and African Americans: Some Facts / Fact Sheet
August 2003— Some maintain that, while African Americans bear a large portion of the cost of the Social Security program, they and their families will receive little in benefits should the workers become disabled, retire or die. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu provide Current Population Survey data to inform the discussion about African American beneficiaries and the value of Social Security. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS94)

Women and Individual Social Security Accounts in Chile, Australia, and the United Kingdom / Research Report
July 2003— How women fare under the social security systems of Australia, Chile and the United Kingdom, countries with individual accounts which have been proposed for the United States, is explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie M. Korczyk of Analytical Services. (55 pages) (Publication ID: 2003-09)

Civil Rights and Race Relations / Research Report
April 2002— There is much agreement about the beneficial aspects of the civil rights movement and the positive results of racial/ethnic diversity, according to a national telephone survey of age 18+ Americans, conducted in late 2003 by The Gallup Organization for AARP. However that study shows major perceptual gaps about how minorities are treated, the opportunities they have, and what steps are needed to make further progress. (107 pages)

The Impact of Pay Inequality, Occupational Segregation, and Lifetime Work Experience on the Retirement Income of Women and Minorities / Research Report
September 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Olivia S. Mitchell and John W. Phillips of the University of Pennsylvania and Phillip B. Levine of Wellesley College explores how much of the difference in projected retirement income between groups is represented by differences in earnings between working men and women, occupational segregation, and differences in labor market attachment. (53 pages) (Publication ID: 9910)

Social Security Reform: How do Minorities Fare Under Social Security? A Response to Two Heritage Foundation Reports / Research Report
September 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by John Gist explores the issue of how fair the Social Security program is to minorities compared with whites in terms of the returns on their contributions. (10 pages) (Publication ID: IB34)

Social Security Reform: How Might Women Fare? / Research Report
January 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sara Rix of PPI and John B. Williamson of Boston College examines the importance of Social Security to women now and into the 21st century, especially with respect to their continued economic vulnerability. It also addresses issues of benefit adequacy and equity for women and assesses how some of the more prominent proposed changes to the Social Security system might affect them. (20 pages) (Publication ID: IB31)