I want 10 or more great web sites that are targeted to women 55 years of age
or older that ->

- Help them find work 
- Help them start their own work at home business
- Help them with with emotional issues facing the older women worker

I absolutely don't want any Multi-Level Marketing schemes, Get-Rich
Quick schemes, or Franchise programs.

An example of a quality web site would be AARP, or any quality govenment web
site, or the forum at www.mompreneursonline.com.  I want web sites
that don't have a monetary interest in recruiting someone or
aggressivley selling something, but are purely informational.  Minor
book sale ads are OK though.

With each web site, please highlight 2 or 3 really great pages on the
site and give me a few sentences describing the site's best features
and theme.

If you can't find 10, then fill out the list of the ones you did find
with sites that are for women in general, but that would be a last
resort.

Thanks.

---

Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 23 Mar 2004 23:11 PST

Hello ganswers-ga,

I?ve started researching your question and I?ve discovered that there
are lots of resources for people who want to work after age 55.
However, few of these are focused strictly on women. Part of the
reason for this is that government agencies and private organizations
receiving government funds must adhere to equal employment opportunity
rules and cannot show preference for women. I?ve found some articles
addressing the situation of 55+ women but very limited resources aimed
strictly at women over 55. Please let me know more about your project.
Is the requirement of resources aimed strictly at women over 55 of
paramount importance or would it meet your requirements to identify
websites that are aimed at the job/work needs of people over 55?

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

---

Clarification of Question by ganswers-ga on 24 Mar 2004 10:59 PST

czh,

I'd rather have resources targeted towards over 55 women entrepreneurs
and job seekers than not.

"I?ve found some articles addressing the situation of 55+ women."

These articles sound good, please do include them in your research report.  

You say:

"Part of the reason for this is that government agencies and private
organizations receiving government funds must adhere to equal
employment opportunity rules and cannot show preference for women."

In my question I used government or government related sites as an
example, but being government related is not a requirement.  I used
government sites as an example of neutrality (not aggressively selling
a product), that's all. That is why I also mentioned sites like
www.mompreneursonline.com which is not a government site, sells a
couple of books, but provides a ton of good information. I'd rather
have sites like those, especially if they have resources targeted for
women over 55, then others.

To get things done however, is a hierarchy you can follow, best first:

- As stated, sites or resources (articles are fine) devoted to women
over 55 trying to find work or start a business

- Sites devoted to women in general that are trying to find work or
start a business.

- Last resort, sites that are the truly the best sites for finding
work for men and women over 55.  But as I said, if it's a well known
site like AARP, I can find those myself.

Does this help?

Thanks.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 24 Mar 2004 11:09 PST

Hi there,

I've been looking at your question as well, and I also have a question
for you, if you don't mind.

You cited www.mompreneursonline.com as a good example of what you're
after.  But I didn't see much material on this site that specifically
focused on the over-55 crowd.  And thinking about it a bit, I'm not
sure how or why business advice would be different for women who were
over-55, as opposed to the advice for under-55 year olds.

Could you comment on this?  Even better, have a look at:

http://www.onlinewbc.gov/

and let me know how this site would rate vis a vis your needs.  It's
certainly focused on businesswomen, but not particularly on the
over-55 age group.

Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by ganswers-ga on 24 Mar 2004 12:48 PST

Pafalafa,

* The SBA online site for women would fall into category #2 in the
hierarchy above that I gave for preferred sites/resources.  So it's a
good one but not an ideal one.

* www.mompreneursonline.com would also fall into category #2.

* What is different for older women workers than not?  

Here's a list of some of the points I've seen made from older women on
various message boards, paraphrased not quoted:

- They feel that a lot of web sites and the information on those web
sites are targeted towards individuals that have much better computer
skills then them.  The 55+ women worker (and man) did not grow up with
computers and the Internet.

- There are special emotional issues facing the older women worker
such as; having to compete with highly computer literate younger males
and the way that feels, feelings of isolation that come from working
at home with their families grown and gone, and their husbands
sometimes passed on (widows), desiring resources that focus on a team
spirit and a sense of community more than anything else.

- Questions on any tax advantages/breaks, government programs, etc.
that may be available to 55+ women workers.

- But most often, sites that are geared towards helping 55+ women
workers take advantage of their extensive interpersonal communication
and networking skills and life experience, and using those skills in a
business environment (training oriented sites).

Thanks.

Hello again ganswers-ga,

Your clarifications were very helpful and I?ve been able to find some
resources that should meet your needs. You indicated that your chief
goal was to locate great websites for women over 55 to help them find
work or start their own companies. You also wanted to find resources
for helping them with the emotional issues facing older workers. In
your clarification you set up three categories for filling these
requirements.

In my research I found that it was fairly easy to find resources for
people (men and women) over 55 and also to find resources for women
who want to start their own business. It was more difficult to find
resources directed specifically at women over 55. I?ve organized the
material I?ve found into your three categories. I?ve numbered the top
ten and show them at the top of each category. In addition to these
highly rated websites I?ve also included additional related resources
to help you with further exploration.

Although you say that your research shows that women over 55 have
unique needs, I believe that many of the general resources directed at
mature workers and at entrepreneurs will provide lots of valuable
information for your target audience.

Please don?t hesitate to ask for clarification on any of this. Wishing
you well for your project.

~ czh ~


====================================================
WOMEN AGED 55+ -- JOB SEARCH AND / OR START BUSINESS
====================================================
(- As stated, sites or resources (articles are fine) devoted to women
over 55 trying to find work or start a business)


1) Women Work!
http://www.womenwork.org/

The Displaced Homemaker Network was founded in 1978 to help women with
re-entering the workforce. The organization changed its name to Women
Work! The National Network for Women's Employment as it broadened its
objectives to deal with the full range of economic transitions women
facerecognizing the range of economic transitions women face
throughout their lives. ?Today, Women Work! is one of the leading
organizations advocating for women to train and qualify for jobs in
the information technology field and nontraditional occupations.?

***** Although the organization does not set a specific age limit for
its membership, it is clear that most of their initiatives are focused
on older women. This is an excellent site for a broad range of
resources to help women going through transitions. The directory it
offers for finding local programs is especially valuable.

http://www.womenwork.org/
Women Work! The National Network for Women?s Employment
A national, nonprofit organization rooted in the Displaced Homemakers
Movement, Women Work! is dedicated to empowering women from diverse
backgrounds and helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency through
job readiness, education, training and employment.

http://www.womenwork.org/resources/directory.htm
National Directory of Women's Education & Training Programs 
Women Work! makes its Program Directory available online to assist
individual women in identifying programs and services in their local
communities. We recommend that you contact each program in your area
directly to learn more about their requirements for participation, the
types of training they provide and the types of services available.

http://www.womenwork.org/resources/individual.htm
Resources for Individuals and Women in Transition 
 -- Work & Money Series 
 -- Earned Income Tax Credits:
 -- Work Your Image!:
 -- The Difference a Vote Makes:
 -- Career Ladder
 -- Health Watch

-------------------------------------------------


2) Senior Women Web
http://www.seniorwomen.com/sitemap.html

We take pride in having advanced to this age. We are women over fifty
years old.  Senior, in this case, means we have graduated from one
life stage to another. Our interests are varied, our tastes eclectic,
our need for information unending. ? The site is meant for women over
50 ? We've fashioned this site in an attempt to reflect women's issues
and concerns. We also hope it reflects those two most compelling
relationships, that of community and connectivity.

http://www.seniorwomen.com/mc/mc_employment.html
Home > Money & Computing > Employment

-------------------------------------------------



http://www.heller.brandeis.edu/national/let.htm
The National Center on Women and Aging
The Women & Aging Letter  -- Our Newsletter for Midlife and Older Women

http://www.heller.brandeis.edu/national/work.htm 
Older Women and Work 

While American economic prosperity depends on the productivity of all
workers, demographics suggest that midlife and older workers will play
an increasingly larger role in the workforce. And, given two trends
that have dramatically changed the composition of the labor force over
the past 30 years -- more women working outside the home while raising
children and more women working by preference rather than economic
necessity -- the proportion of midlife and older women in the labor
force will increase.  This issue of the Women & Aging Letter provides
information on the current and future labor force status of these
women.

-------------------------------------------------


http://asktwc.com/about.html
The Women?s Connection

The TWC is the Quad Cities women's organization that provides
information to you about health, finances, lifestyle, and more, plus
the opportunity to meet women who share your interests, goals, and
sense of fun...all without the duties of a traditional women's
organization. ? The Women's Connection offers events that provide
informative learning opportunities focusing on health, finance or
lifestyle issues from a woman's point of view. The Women's Connection
is for everyone, and you'll be sure to make friends and valuable
contacts.

***** This is an Illinois organization that provides resources and
support for local women. It is a good example of the types of
organizations you can look for in other localities as well.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.dol.gov/wb/welcome.html
U.S. Department of Labor -- Women's Bureau

http://www.dol.gov/wb/media/newsletter/e-news9artl-04.htm
U.S. Department of Labor -- Women's Bureau
Older Women Workers

***** This is website that offers lots of resources for your target
audience. The e-news postings are especially relevant.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.womensenews.org/links_Aging.cfm
Women's eNews Links

Women's eNews is a nonprofit independent news service covering the
issues that are of particular concern to women.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1595/context/archive
More Older Women Staying In Paid Work Force
Run Date: 11/10/03

Older women's participation in the work force has not only withstood
the recession, it has expanded in recent years. But before celebrating
the finding, economists point out that such women are often driven by
profound financial pressures.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2002/09/art4full.pdf
http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2002/09/art4exc.htm
The labor force participation of older women: retired? working? both?

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/older/download/olderwomen.pdf
Realizing decent work for older women workers
ILO / Older Workers (ILO) , 2000 

Paper aims to identify issues and contribute to the debate by
governments, employers and trade unions, on legislative and policy
measures necessary to address economic and social concerns raised by
an ageing population. Concentrating on work from the the perspective
of the older woman, emphasis is placed on promoting decent work for
older women workers through a rights-based approach.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42036-2003Oct3?language=printer
A Slave to Health Insurance 
More Older Women Must Work for Money and Benefits 
October 4, 2003; Page A01 

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Features/2-11-23WomenAging.htm 
Majority Of Women 50 And Over Say Aging Is Better Than They Expected

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.wfn.com/pages/articles.asp?pageID=169&SID=8&ArticleID=912
Finance for Seniors ? Introduction

According to one recent study, the number of older Americans has
increased ten fold since 1990 - jumping from 3 to 25 million people
over the age of 65. What's more, women were shown to account for 58%
of that same population and an overwhelming 70% of those 85 and
older*.

When you look a bit closer at the country's aging population it
becomes clear that women are more likely to be on their own then men
are.

The same study showed that these elderly women were more likely to
live alone than were older men.
Only 55% of women between the ages of 65 and 74, and a mere 13% of
women over the age of 85 are married.
http://www.wfn.com/pages/articles.asp?pageID=169&SID=8&ArticleID=921

Joining the Workforce --Part IX
More and more older Americans are rejoining the workforce in their
golden years. Whether it be to supplement your income to indulge an
unpursued interest, finding, securing and maintaining the right job
can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience at this time in your
life.
In this section we'll discuss: 
 -- Types of jobs to consider 
 -- How to look for a job 
 -- Going back to school



======================================================
WOMEN ANY AGE ? JOB SEARCH AND / OR START OWN BUSINESS
======================================================
(- Sites devoted to women in general that are trying to find work or
start a business.)


3) Women at Work
http://www.womenatwork1.org/

Women at Work is a career and job resource center serving a broad
spectrum of women in the greater Los Angeles area, helping each
individual to recognize and attain her full employment and earnings
potential by providing job and career resources in a supportive
environment.

***** This women?s center is located in Pasadena, California and
offers workshops, individual career counseling and a resource center.
It is one of the few remaining career centers that has survived the
arrival of the Internet. The services it offers are excellent.

http://www.womenatwork1.org/pages/about.htm
A Resource Center for All Job Seekers and Employers

http://www.womenatwork1.org/pages/links.htm
Links - Online Resources

http://www.womenatwork1.org/pages/networking.htm
Networking Opportunities for Women

-------------------------------------------------


4) Center for Women's Business Research
http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/

Center for Women?s Business Research is the premier source of
knowledge about women business owners and their enterprises worldwide.
The Center?s mission is to unleash the economic potential of women
entrepreneurs by conducting research, sharing information and
increasing knowledge about this fast-growing sector of the economy.

***** This is a very rich site that offers a tremendous amount of
information about women entrepreneurs. The research reports help you
get up-to-date information about women in business. The links for
finding additional entrepreneur resources for women are excellent. The
Resource Guide and other links will greatly help any woman wanting to
start or grow a business.

http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/resourceguide/index.htm
Methods That Work for Creating Corporate Clients

***** This is a 36-page resource guide that you can browse online or
download for easy reference.

http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/links.html
Women Business-Related Organizations and Sites 

http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/Research/index.htm
Press Releases by Date
http://www.womensbusinessresearch.org/topics.html
Press Releases by Topic

-------------------------------------------------


5) Blue Suit Mom 
http://www.bluesuitmom.com/about/

BlueSuitMom.com is the premier resource of work and family balance
information for executive working mothers and their employers. You'll
find advice on parenting, career advancement, the balancing act, meal
planning and family health and fitness, delivered in a format that
nurtures respect for professional mothers.

Our Mission
It is the mission of BlueSuitMom.com to provide the tools and
information necessary for a woman to reach her full potential as a
mother, professional, business owner, spouse or woman. Additionally,
we support this mission by providing services and programs to the
companies who employ Today's BlueSuitMoms. Our promise has always been
to address "real-life" solutions that can be easily applied to a busy
lifestyle in a manner that reflects the professionalism of our
audience.

http://www.realsmallbusiness.com/bluesuitmom/index.html
Real Small Business ? Practical Advice and Solutions for Today?s Small Business

-------------------------------------------------


6) EntreWorld from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation 
http://www.entreworld.org/

EntreWorld is designed to increase your productivity by getting you
essential information as quickly and easily as possible. Recognized by
USA Today, Forbes, Inc. and Fast Company as a premier online resource
for small business owners, the EntreWorld search engine delivers the
best and most useful information, guidance and contacts for you, the
entrepreneur.

***** This is an outstanding site to help anyone with their
entrepreneurial hopes, goals, dreams. The materials are divided into
various channels that should help you find all the information you
need.

http://www.entreworld.org/Women/
Women?s Channel

http://www.entreworld.org/Channel/SYB.cfm
Starting Your Business

http://www.entreworld.org/Channel/GYB.cfm
Growing Your Business

-------------------------------------------------


7) Small Business Administration
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov

Mission 
Maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by aiding, counseling,
assisting and protecting the interests of small businesses and by
helping families and businesses recover from national disasters.

***** The SBA is one of the first places to seek assistance by anyone
interested in starting and operating a small business. The website is
rich with resources and includes a special section dedicated to
serving women.

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/financing/special/women.html
Women

Women business owners are critically important to the American
economy.  America's 9.1 million women-owned businesses employ 27.5
million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the economy.  However,
women continue to face unique obstacles in the world of business.

The SBA is a very strong advocate for women entrepreneurs and offers
many programs and services to help them succeed.  The following
resources offer unique opportunities and guidance for women
entrepreneurs.

-------------------------------------------------


8) IDEA CAFÉ
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/Welcome.html
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/sitemap.html

***** This is portal site is an excellent resource for anyone
interested in starting and operating their own small business. There
is a special section on Work@Home business ideas and resources. There
aren?t any sections dedicated to women or mature business people but
the selection of tools and resources offered is so broad that anyone
interested in starting and running their own business should find lots
of help and food for thought.

http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/workathome/index.php
WORK@HOME

Welcome to the corner of Idea Cafe set up just for you work-at-home
moms and dads to tackle the headaches, rewards, and secrets of working
at home.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.women-21.gov/index2.asp
Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century

The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Small Business
Administration have partnered to keep attention focused on this
vibrant sector of the economy. We recently launched Women-21.gov, a
premier one-stop federal resource for targeted information,
registration for online programs, and networking opportunities to help
women entrepreneurs navigate the ever-changing business world and do
what they do best: innovate, create jobs, and make a vital
contribution to the strength of America.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.womensbusinesscenters.org/network_main.php
Association of Women?s Business Centers
AWBC Networks and Alliances

***** This page presents an excellent list of organizations dedicated
to various aspects of helping women entrepreneurs.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.witi.com/
Women in Technology International (WITI)

Carolyn Leighton founded WITI in 1989 to help women advance by
providing access to - and support from - other professional women
working in all sectors of technology. Today, WITI is the premiere
global organization empowering women in business and technology to
achieve unimagined possibilities.

***** This is a membership organization but anyone can use the wealth
of resources offered on the website.


===================================================
ANYONE AGE 55+ ? JOB SEARCH AND / OR START BUSINESS
===================================================
(- Last resort, sites that are the truly the best sites for finding
work for men and women over 55.  But as I said, if it's a well known
site like AARP, I can find those myself.)

9) Diversityworking.Com
http://www.diversityworking.com/

We are a diversity job board supporting culture in the workplace.
Companies post jobs, search resumes and advertise with us because we
offer a direct link to the diversity marketplace and the proven
advantages of hiring a diverse work force. It is our goal to offer the
diversity population and diversity minded employers direct access to
each other.

Diversityworking.com is also a national Career Expo producer for the
diversity marketplace. We produce stand alone and co-located job fairs
within targeted industry channels. To accomplish this, we market and
partner with organizations that can help in delivering the best and
brightest candidates that the market demands.

http://www.diversityworking.com/communityChannels/matureWorker/
Mature Workers Job Resources and General News
http://www.diversityworking.com/communityChannels/women/
Women Job Resources and General News

-------------------------------------------------


10) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
http://wdsc.doleta.gov/seniors/

This is a federal program that offers a part-time employment training
program for low-income persons age 55 or over. Program participants
are placed at community and government agencies for training and are
paid the Federal or State minimum wage, whichever is higher. They may
also receive specialized training and can use their participation as a
bridge to other employment positions which are not supported with
Federal funds. Persons who are seeking employment may also find this
site useful. Everyone is welcome!

http://www.experienceworks.org/scsep.html
Experience Works, Inc.
Established as Green Thumb in 1965, and renamed in 2002, Experience
Works is a national, nonprofit organization that offers training,
employment, and community service opportunities for mature workers.
This includes a variety of programs designed to help mature
individuals enter the workforce, secure more challenging positions,
move into new career areas, or supplement their incomes.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.quintcareers.com/older_worker_tips.html
Approaches and Tactics for Older Workers Who Can't Find a Job

***** This is a good article for 55+ workers but even more, it has an
excellent collection of links to helpful resources.

http://www.quintcareers.com/mature_jobseekers.html
Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers -- Including
the Baby Boomers

This page is all about career and job sites geared especially for
mature and older job-seekers.


-------------------------------------------------


http://www.jist.com/older.htm
The 25 Best Jobs for Workers Age 55 and Over

-------------------------------------------------


http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0813FD3C5F0C7B8CDDA00894DB404482
NATIONAL DESK | September 8, 2003, Monday 
Older Workers Are Thriving Despite Recent Hard Times 
 
-------------------------------------------------

http://www.operationable.net/Index.htm
Operation ABLE

Operation A.B.L.E. (Ability Based on Long Experience) promotes
employment and training opportunities for individuals who represent
economically, racially and occupationally diverse populations.
A.B.L.E.'s mission is to serve people aged 45 and older, but our
programs are available to adults of all ages.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.operationable.org/2004/network.htm
The Operation ABLE Network is composed of agencies across the United
States that focus on meeting the needs of mid-career and older workers
and job seekers.
Here are the communities with agencies that are part of the ABLE
Network: (Click on the name of the community for more information.)
Boston
Chicago
Los Angeles
Michigan
Nebraska
Vermont
Washington, D.C.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.americaconnects.net/
The America Connects Consortium 

(ACC) supports the work of community technology centers (CTCs) across
the country. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, ACC provides
technical assistance to the more than 400 centers funded through the
federal CTC program. Through training, evaluation, resource
development, and information referral, ACC supports the use of
information technology to improve adult literacy and achievement in
education.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.fortyplus.org/OtherChapters.htm
http://www.40plussocal.org/other40p.htm
Forty Plus Chapters

Some of the information on this page may be out of date - a fact we
hope to find resources to remedy before long. But a number of Forty
Plus chapters have web sites (verified 2/15/2002) which you can find
below.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.aarp.org/careers/
http://www.aarp.org/careers-tools/Articles/a2003-03-17-webresources.html
AARP Finding a Job

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.hirediversity.com/matureworkers.asp
Mature Worker Channel

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.generationmom.com/pg-article.asp?Sub=5&ID=7730 
As Global Labor Pool Ages, Workers Over 55 "Rewire" Vs. "Retire"
Worldwide Drake Beam Morin Study Reveals Career Tips For Older Workers

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.seniorjournal.com/index.html
SeniorJournal.com

Senior Citizens News and Information Daily on the Web



===============
SEARCH STRATEGY
===============

older women job search assistance
55 plus  women job search assistance
mature workers job search assistance
"operation able"
"mature workers" job search
jobs older women

An excellent answer.  Clearly formatted, good resource links and
accompanying explanations, all given within a short response time.