SOC 030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, Corporate Welfare, Welfare Fraud
POVERTY AND WELFARE
Welfare: social benefits administered by the government for the purpose of ensuring
the well-being of a country’s citizens or other residents.
American Ideals and Values that influence Americans’ perceptions of the poor and
welfare recipients:
-Independence- independent success; independently overcoming difficult
obstacles
-Land of opportunity- anyone can succeed if they try
-success= morality
-Lack of success is due to laziness/immorality
-Calvinism, Puritanism
-Material rewards needed for motivation
Society’s Views of Welfare:
-The residual perspective:
-Welfare should only be given to those who have no other means to
survive- can’t work, have no other support
-“The deserving poor”
-Welfare discourages motivation and weakens character- fosters a
dependence on the government
-People want to be on welfare so they don’t have to work
-“The undeserving poor”
-The institutional perspective:
-Welfare programs play a vital role in dealing with problems generated by
society’s social structure and events
-Assumes people are not at fault for being in poverty, therefore the poor
deserve help without being stigmatized
Welfare Stereotypes in the Media
-Single mothers
-Immigrants
-Lazy and immature
-Black
-Urban
-Female teenager with multiple children- Welfare Queens
Poverty and Welfare Myths Busted
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Welfare: social benefits administered by the government for the purpose of ensuring the well-being of a country"s citizens or other residents. American ideals and values that influence americans" perceptions of the poor and welfare recipients: Land of opportunity- anyone can succeed if they try success= morality. Welfare should only be given to those who have no other means to survive- can"t work, have no other support. Welfare discourages motivation and weakens character- fosters a dependence on the government. People want to be on welfare so they don"t have to work. Welfare programs play a vital role in dealing with problems generated by society"s social structure and events. Assumes people are not at fault for being in poverty, therefore the poor deserve help without being stigmatized. Female teenager with multiple children- welfare queens. Myth: black people make up the greatest proportion of those in poverty. 42. 1% of people in poverty are white, 23% are black, and 28% are latino.
