The central aim of this book is to challenge to questions like ''Which gender copes better when a spouse dies? and Are women or men more independent on others as they grow older? Putting gender in a lifespan context, Hatch (Sociology, U. of Kentucky) atypically accents the gains as well as losses of aging and sex differences in adaptation overall, to the death of a spouse, and to retirement. A number of controversies surrounding gender and aging are addressed.