The U.S. Congress has only recently begun to evaluate the special needs of midlife women. Public policy should support the efforts of women coping with the various job, educational, and personal transitions in their lives. To refute the stereotypical labeling of midlife women, society must identify the origins of these women's insecurities and the problem groups within this population, such as the displaced homemaker, the poor, and the psychologically distressed. Today's younger women can anticipate significantly different lives from their mothers and grandmothers, particularly with regard to education, higher levels of work experience, changing family-work roles, divorce and single parenthood, and parent-caring and child-caring. Public policy, therefore, must adapt to these changing needs. The two factors most significantly affecting women's economic security and well-being are education and work status. Age and sex biases, career changes, continuing education, volunteer work, and retirement and pension plans all must be examined in order to improve the quality of life for midlife women. (Author/NRB)