Back to search

Virginia Tech

The Professional Woman's Decision to Retire: The Process of Transition

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The transitional process to retirement by today's professional women is an issue of great significance. Beginning in the 1960s, these women became the first generation en masse to form long-term careers and to join the professional ranks. Retirement is now affecting over seven million women who are age 55 or older. A void exists in literature concerning these women's experiences as they approach retirement. Their pre-retirement transitions and decision-making process have not been previously addressed. This study addressed the void and through qualitative research, employed a multiple-case study with a phenomenological frame. Through in-depth interviews, the data collected addressed professional women's pre-retirement decision-making. A five-phase working model was developed that illustrates the transitions to retirement of professional women.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Human Development
Department dc:contributor.department
Human Development
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2002

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Repass, Mary Eva
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Boucouvalas, Marcie
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • McCollum, Eric E.
  • Morris, Linda E.
  • Lichtman, Marilyn V.
  • Kurstedt, Harold A. Jr.
  • Combs, Letitia A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-04192002-114300
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/26991

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Repass, Mary Eva. The Professional Woman's Decision to Retire: The Process of Transition. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26991