Sociology 1201 Week Four: Social class and public policy Why has marriage become so uncommon and why does the government think it should get involved? ? Do you approve of the goals of these marriage movement programs” Do you believe they will be effective?

Sociology 1201 “New Deal” of the 1930s Social Security Act of 1935 Social Security Act of 1935 One of its provisions was Aid to Dependent Children (“suitable homes” and “deserving poor”)… One of its provisions was Aid to Dependent Children (“suitable homes” and “deserving poor”)… Basically aimed at white widows and their children Basically aimed at white widows and their children Locally administered. In the American south, African Americans were excluded

Sociology 1201 Southern Democrats and the Power of the Filibuster Florida Representative James Wilcox: "There is another matter of great importance in the South and that is the problem of our Negro labor. There has always been a difference in the wage scale of white and colored labor. So long as Florida people are permitted to handle the matter, the delicate and perplexing problem can be handled.“ Florida Representative James Wilcox: "There is another matter of great importance in the South and that is the problem of our Negro labor. There has always been a difference in the wage scale of white and colored labor. So long as Florida people are permitted to handle the matter, the delicate and perplexing problem can be handled.“ South also the poorest part of the country and in need of New Deal programs South also the poorest part of the country and in need of New Deal programs

Sociology 1201 The War on Poverty President Lyndon Johnson: “an all out war” to “abolish poverty in our time. Its provisions included: President Lyndon Johnson: “an all out war” to “abolish poverty in our time. Its provisions included: Head Start Head Start Food Stamps Food Stamps Expansion of Aid to Families with Dependent Children Expansion of Aid to Families with Dependent Children

Sociology 1201 Effects of the War on Poverty : Combined purchasing power of AFDC and food stamps rose 40% : Combined purchasing power of AFDC and food stamps rose 40% Child poverty reached a low point of 14% in 1969 Child poverty reached a low point of 14% in 1969 By the early 1980s, it was up to 23% and it has fluctuated between 23% and 16% since that time By the early 1980s, it was up to 23% and it has fluctuated between 23% and 16% since that time

Sociology 1201 More Effects % of single mothers collecting AFDC rose from 29% in 1964 to 63% in 1972 and the overall number of single mothers also rose in those years % of single mothers collecting AFDC rose from 29% in 1964 to 63% in 1972 and the overall number of single mothers also rose in those years Change from an overwhelmingly white program to a program in which the largest group of mothers and kids was black, which in turn reflected poverty statistics for the country as a whole Change from an overwhelmingly white program to a program in which the largest group of mothers and kids was black, which in turn reflected poverty statistics for the country as a whole The Great Migration The Great Migration The National Welfare Rights Organization The National Welfare Rights Organization

Sociology 1201 Background to welfare reform By 1993, Christopher Jencks (Rethinking Social Policy: Race, Poverty, and the Underclass), would term AFDC the “most unpopular social program in America” (Is it because of the racial shift in the population it was serving?) By 1993, Christopher Jencks (Rethinking Social Policy: Race, Poverty, and the Underclass), would term AFDC the “most unpopular social program in America” (Is it because of the racial shift in the population it was serving?) Basic changes in the family; working and middle class mothers now in the work force so why should poor mothers be subsidized to stay at home Basic changes in the family; working and middle class mothers now in the work force so why should poor mothers be subsidized to stay at home

Sociology 1201 Groups Low Income Budget Low Income Budget Low Income Budget Low Income Budget

Sociology 1201 Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996 Established a new welfare system, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Established a new welfare system, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Five year limits, which many states shortened Five year limits, which many states shortened Immediate requirements about jobs and job-seeking Immediate requirements about jobs and job-seeking Short term education and training Short term education and training Family Cap: no work exemption and no support for children born to mothers already on welfare Family Cap: no work exemption and no support for children born to mothers already on welfare Carrot and stick: Sanctions and set-asides Carrot and stick: Sanctions and set-asides

Sociology 1201 Promoting “Family Values” $50 million per year to promote abstinence education $50 million per year to promote abstinence education $100 million per year to the five states that reduce out of wedlock births the most without increasing abortions $100 million per year to the five states that reduce out of wedlock births the most without increasing abortions Penalties to mothers who fail to control a child’s truancy Penalties to mothers who fail to control a child’s truancy No TANF for minors unless living with parents No TANF for minors unless living with parents Stronger programs to collect child support Stronger programs to collect child support

Sociology 1201 Childcare assistance TANF theoretically provides generous childcare assistance Hays, Flat Broke with Children: “The good news for taxpayers and the bad news for poor single mothers and their children is that the majority of welfare clients never actually receive childcare subsidies.” Hays, Flat Broke with Children: “The good news for taxpayers and the bad news for poor single mothers and their children is that the majority of welfare clients never actually receive childcare subsidies.” Why not? Fiscal crisis and state control Why not? Fiscal crisis and state control

Sociology 1201 Is TANF a success? In terms of getting women and children off welfare, yes… remember Aisha and Wanda in “Legacy” In terms of getting women and children off welfare, yes… remember Aisha and Wanda in “Legacy” But among the advanced industrial countries, Denmark and Finland lead the way with less than 3% of children in poverty. The United States is at the bottom of the list: Children’s Defense Fund But among the advanced industrial countries, Denmark and Finland lead the way with less than 3% of children in poverty. The United States is at the bottom of the list: Children’s Defense FundChildren’s Defense FundChildren’s Defense Fund

Sociology 1201 Results A dramatic decrease in the number of mothers and children collecting welfare A dramatic decrease in the number of mothers and children collecting welfare A large movement of “welfare mothers” into the workforce, often in low-wage jobs A large movement of “welfare mothers” into the workforce, often in low-wage jobs More women and children in the homeless population More women and children in the homeless population An increased usage of food shelves, soup kitchens, homeless shelters An increased usage of food shelves, soup kitchens, homeless shelters And now, in 2012, more than 6 million Americans whose only financial support is food stamps ($320 a month for a mother with two kids) And now, in 2012, more than 6 million Americans whose only financial support is food stamps ($320 a month for a mother with two kids)

Sociology 1201 Can We do Better?: the MFIP Demonstration Project In Minnesota, 14,000 welfare recipients and applicants, randomly assigned to either MFIP or AFDC in 1994… pilot projected last three years, with careful evaluation of six-year impacts on parents and children In Minnesota, 14,000 welfare recipients and applicants, randomly assigned to either MFIP or AFDC in 1994… pilot projected last three years, with careful evaluation of six-year impacts on parents and children Earned Income Tax Credit… created under President Ford, expanded under Clinton… Earned Income Tax Credit… created under President Ford, expanded under Clinton…

Film: “Let’s Get Married” In the mid-1960s, the Moynihan Report raised a storm of criticism by highlighting that 1/3 of African American babies were being born out of wedlock. In the mid-1960s, the Moynihan Report raised a storm of criticism by highlighting that 1/3 of African American babies were being born out of wedlock. By now, the white out of wedlock births are probably that high and for African Americans dramatically higher. Can the government do anything to reverse those trends? By now, the white out of wedlock births are probably that high and for African Americans dramatically higher. Can the government do anything to reverse those trends? Sociology 1201