Chapter 9

Conclusion: Lessons Learned and Visions of Change

Lessons Learned:

Women and Welfare

Popular Perception of Women of Welfare..A Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wKBhF3Kx_UQ

Additional Videos:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHIuXnNKKGo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbHZsx-jIkY&feature=related

Women & Poverty

Poor women are criticized and stigmatized for their status in society..

What are these criticisms (again?)

Lessons Learned

The Author’s Critique of the Welfare System

Women & Poverty-Introduction• Women’s lives are much more complex than is commonly thought (viewed more as a

personal problem or moral flaw). There are varied reasons for women going onto (and remaining on) welfare .

• Social policy does not address causes, contributors or consequences of poverty (such as economic conditions, divorce, medical health, etc.)

• Women in welfare are not able to survive on a “welfare check”, they rely on a valuable network of formal and informal support.

• Welfare mothers share the same views on motherhood and work as their upper and middle-class counterparts

• Attributing personal responsibility to welfare recipients, benefits upper/middle classes– Decrease in members on “welfare rolls”– Creates a separate “sub class” in society– Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh-3L1HEBYU&feature=related

Women & Welfare-BarriersSome of these barriers include:1. Sexism

• Women assume the role of taking care of the family’s children; yet their work is highly devalued as easy & not economically valuable

• It is assumed now that day-care is the best option for lower-income women to raise children than the mothers themselves

• Although great strides have been made for women in workforce(economic conditions notwithstanding), these strides lead to an expectation that women who don’t work are stigmatized

• Women are expected to be the “superwoman” able to juggle household work and outside employment. In most houses, this can cause stress (pg. 216/217), it is even more so in homes with limited resources and support and in an environment of discrimination

• Working women are often blamed for youth problems-juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy and more…

Women & Welfare, Barriers cont’d.2.Wage Structure • Women are overrepresented in “gendered” jobs that are

often lower-paying and have less prestige than their male counterparts (Secretary, Waitress, etc.)

• Historically, women have not been seen as serious hard workers and were often pushed out of workforce altogether

• Women – Women in poverty receive even less income from work than

men, less (or no) benefits in jobs that offer – Women in poverty also have less marketable job skills and

education

Women & Welfare, Barriers cont’d.

3. Lack of Resources: Poor women lack adequate childcare, transportation, education

Women lose these supports when they “go off of welfare”• Healthcare (Medicaid)• Income security (Check)• Assistance with food (Food stamps)

Visions of Change: Reform

Welfare Reform-Success or Failure?

Welfare Reform-Success or Failure?

Has welfare reform been a success?

What are some possible ways we can reform current welfare policies in the United States?

Visions of Change

Welfare in Other Countries

Welfare Reform-Success or Failure?Possible Suggestions for Future Reform

• Provide structural supports that provide security– Higher wages/Living wage– High-Quality daycare– Transportation – Education/Training– Benefits that transfer from job to job

• Asset accumulation– Basic Income Grant– Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s)

Comparison Between US and Foreign Countries Response to

PovertyUS poverty rate exceeds 17 other comparable

nationsOther countries provide the following for

poverty:• Proactive, rather than reactive• Not Means-tested• Family/Child Allowances (around 10% of

average wages• Universal

Nation in Focus: France• Higher unemployment rate, child poverty rate

considerably lower• Only 25% single mother receive “welfare benefits”

compared to 66% in US• Childcare free from 2 1/2 – 6 years old • Before/After school care for nominal fee• Free universal healthcare that cannot be lost• Family allowance, child allowance, housing allowance• Investment in lower-tier work (receive more

assistance)

Now a short quiz to wrap up the text!