Background: In late 2021, the Retirement Research Center (RRC) surveyed over 2,000 retired workers. Four distinct retiree segments were uncovered in the study: Confident, Optimistic Thrifty, Nervous, and Struggling. This is part 8 of the RRC’s Research Minute series about this study and this week’s focus is on women in retirement.During the accumulation phase, women earn less over their lifetime, as compared to men, and they also are more apt to spend less time in the workforce due to caregiving responsibilities. In retirement, women face a heightened risk of disability and widowhood, often as a result of greater longevity. (Source: US Treasury, 2017).Findings: In this RRC study, gender disparities were substantial and persistent. We explored gaps across many facets of the study, and particularly found differences in several areas:Women make up 56% of all respondents; however, they are disproportionately represented in the Struggling Retiree segment comprising 67% of the group. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of all unmarried women (single, divorced, or widowed) fall into the Struggling or Nervous cohorts. Married women fare better, but are still not nearly as financially secure or confident as married men.Women are more likely to retire earlier than they expected. 55% report they retired earlier than planned, versus 51% of men. This was again more pronounced among unmarried women.Women, particularly unmarried women, are more reliant on Social Security as a percentage of their annual income in retirement. They are also substantially less likely to have access to defined benefit assets as an income source.Bottom line: Based on this study and others, women in retirement are in a more precarious financial situation than men. Married women report better financial security than their unmarried counterparts but still report challenges and are worse off than married men. Industry leaders should continue creating solutions that address women’s financial insecurity and unique challenges in retirement.