Welfare among Single Mothers

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes K. Harris' article "Work and Welfare among Single Mothers in Poverty," which examines the relationship between work and welfare for poor, female-headed families. The paper looks at the work that single mothers on welfare eventually do, if any, and discusses how Harris traces the ways that single mothers work their way off of welfare. The paper presents the results of Harris' research.

From the Paper:

"In fact, Harris (1993) found significant labor market activity among her subjects. Two-thirds of all welfare exits occurred because of a work situation, challenging the assumption that these women do not work at the same time as they receive welfare. From a personal perspective, this is a refreshing point-of-view. No matter the cultural conception or the cited statistics, welfare recipients are simply not living in the proverbial lap of luxury. No state, as of the mid-1990s providing so much in the way of welfare benefits that would provide an income even close to the poverty level (Pollitt, 1996). Just for an individual to reach the poverty level would require finding work in addition to welfare benefits. I can empathize with this situation, coming from a family in which working full time did not necessarily mean that one could meet every bill, every time."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Harris, K.M. (1993, September). Work and welfare among single mother in poverty. Journal of Sociology, 99(2), pp. 317-352.
• Pollitt, K. (1996, June 24). Just the facts. The Nation, 262(25), p. 9.

More papers on Welfare among Single Mothers:

• Cause and Effect Essay # 3893 : "Single Mothers"
• Article Review # 130520 : "Women Among the Working Poor"
• Term Paper # 58989 : "Child Poverty"

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