Final answer:
The majority of older adults living alone are widowed, with women being three times as likely as men to be in this situation. Societal pressures and stereotypes differ by gender, as older widowed women often face greater scrutiny compared to men.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the demographics of older adults living alone and their marital status, specifically focusing on the ratio of widowed women to men. Based on socio-demographic patterns, we can confirm that the majority of older adults living alone are widowed. This phenomenon encompasses a higher number of women as compared to men, wherewomen are three timesas likely to be widowed as men, answering the question with option (B).
Moreover, studies have shown that men are generally more likely to remarry after the death of a spouse, resulting in fewer older men living alone as widowers. This discrepancy contributes to the larger number of women who live alone as widows. Consequently, the societal impacts of widowhood differ by gender, with many women experiencing a newfound sense of independence and security despite being subjected to societal scrutiny and stereotypes regarding singlehood.