widow is a woman whose spouse has died and a widower is a man whose spouse has died.
Wow interesting, when was the word widow first recorded in history?
Its terms are not applied to a divorcé(e) following the death of an ex-spouse
Does a woman whos second husband died after she the first one died have a special term for it?
term "widowhood" can be used for either  at least according to some dictionaries, but the word "widowerhood" is also listed in some dictionaries.
Are there any other characteristics expected of a woman when her husband dies?
used for either sex, at least according to some dictionaries, but the word "widowerhood" is also listed in some dictionaries. Occasionally, the word "viduity" is used. The adjective for either sex is "widowed".
Economic position.
In societies where the husband is the sole provider, his death can leave his family destitute. The tendency for women generally to outlive men can compound this, as can men in many societies marrying women younger than themselves. In some patriarchal societies, widows may maintain
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died and a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The treatment of widows and widowers around the world varies.
Terminology.
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed "widowhood". These terms are not applied to a divorcé(e) following the death of an ex-spouse.
The term "widowhood" can be