"Making Ends Meet"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, in the article, "Making Ends Meet-How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work" by Christopher Jencks, both sides of the welfare for working mothers issue are addressed. It shows how the article looks closely at the economic hardships of single mothers today from the effects of new government policies to issues of childcare and health expenses. It also looks into the future consequences of changes that may affect the current programs.

From the Paper:

"Jencks also discusses the inabilities of single mothers to live on their federally supplied monthly income. According to the article, families with incomes below $5,000 a year somehow also spent $1,100 a month. This is because these women also take non-reportable work and rely on family, friends and the fathers of their children to help support their family (Jencks, 1997). While many may see this as taking advantage of the system, I see it as a necessity. If the federal government is providing so little income to these mothers, they absolutely have to find other sources of income, in order to obtain necessities. In addition, I feel that this is one way that mothers consider themselves responsible for providing family needs."

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