Unplanned careers : the working lives of middle aged women Introduction and overview Lois B. Shaw and Theresa OBrien Problems of labor market reentry Lois B. Shaw Causes of irregular employment patterns Lois B. Shaw Occupational atypicality Thomas Daymont and Anne Statham Attitudes toward women working Anne Statham and Patricia Rhoton Economic consequences of poor health in mature women Thomas N. Chirikos and Gilbert Nestel Economic consequences of midlife change in marital status Gilbert Nestel Jacqueline Mercer and Lois B. Shaw Summary and conclusions Lois B. Shaw