Poverty
Britney Skyles
10-31-08
Poverty Paper
“Studying the Quagmire of welfare reform” discusses how women an children are affected by the welfare reform. In 1996 a new law came out called the Personal Responsibility Act. Over 90% of the majority adult welfare recipients are single mothers. Many of these women do have work experience, but do not have a high school diploma or the women have a disability that has an effect on their work abilities. This law made all welfare clients find a job and get one fast. Average welfare income is $350 a month, while women are working 30-40 hours a week, they do not have a place to put there kids which will cost the mothers even more money. The welfare mothers that did not reach specific requirements became sanctioned and lost all or some of their family’s welfare check, which is the family’s prime source of income.
Comparing this article, to the group discussion in class, you can see that many people in our society look at welfare clients as lazy, not thankful, undeserving citizens. When really that’s not the case at all, to an extent. This society does have people not working or thankful that receiving money to begin with, but instead of making the mothers enter training courses, have a job, and take care of the kids with no external help is senseless.
Many of the mothers that didn’t reach all of the requirements are now living under the poverty level. The point of this act was to encourage more people to work and not live off of welfare. The welfare rolls were cut by more than half by 2002 to only 5 million
family’s that are living off of welfare. The welfare reform is strictly over race and gender inequality that just brings more problems and concerns to our society. If the society does not pay attention now then our violence, homeless and hunger rate will rise significantly.
View Full Essay