Abstract This paper discusses current literature on the psychological, marital, and personal effects of dual earning couples. The paper studies the dramatic historical changes in the family caused by dual earning husbands and wives. In particular, the paper looks at the new new roles and relationships that have been etched out for all family members. The paper also discusses the impact of increased parenting stress on the family structure and its subsequent effect on child rearing.
From the Paper "Over the course of the past ... or so years, family patterns in the United States have undergone significant and at times dramatic changes. Included in these changes are the presence of dual earners in the family..."
This paper analyzes the workings of the Temporary Aid for Needy Families program, also known as TANF, which is a federal program of financial assistance for low-incomefamilies.
Abstract This paper focuses on the main goals of TANF. TANF is a federal grant program intended to make significant reforms to the U.S. Welfare system by converting traditional welfare into a program of temporary assistance. The writer contends and explains why the TANF is an important transformation in welfare policy. This paper details the various ways in which the TANF aids low-incomefamilies. The TANF encourages the creation and maintenance of two-parent families as well as offering aid to families in order to end their dependency on the government. The TANF offers assistance in obtaining long-term employment, while also educating single women on the pitfalls of having children outside of marriage. The writer details the TANF's eligibility requirements, which depends on income, assets, marital status and the number of minor children in the household. This paper examines the views and opinions of those for and against welfare reform and the TANF program. This paper contains a table which lists state-wide TANF recipients over a span of seven years. The writer also presents a graph that illustrates the percentage of the U.S. population on welfare.
Table of Contents:
Introduction to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Debate Over TANF: Supporters and Opponents
Future Expectations of TANF
Historical Data
Graph
References
From the Paper "TANF was enacted following a bitter debate regarding the characteristics of welfare dependency and the possible impact of culminating the welfare privilege and laying importance on work as an alternative. The conservatives were confirmed as correct that the welfare system itself led to dependence and that several welfare mothers as an alternative measure could hold down jobs or depend on others for help. A work supportive welfare system of narrow, short-term help efficiently took off several mothers off welfare. On a more basic note, the massive decline on dependency on welfare and the growth in work does not appear to have considerably modified the lives of these families. Prior to TANF, state leaders, the conservatives included, also stayed aloof from workforce program due to the expenses and administrative challenges concerned and the political disagreement they produced."
Discusses dual-incomefamilies as a reflection of socioeconomic changes, statistics and theories (general equilibrium, income distribution and international trade).
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 9 sources, 1995, $ 79.95
Abstract
This research examined the phenomenon of the dual earner family in the United States. Changes in the patterns of dual earner families were addressed, and explanations of these changing patterns provided by economic theory were discussed.
A century ago, only five-percent of married woman participated in the labor market. In 1940, fewer than one married woman in seven was working outside the home, while 60 percent work outside the home in 1995. Only 17 percent of married couples are one-earner, with the rest having other or no earners. In the mid-1990s, the dual income family is more common than the traditional one-income married household where the husband works and the wife stays at home. In 1980, half of all married couples ..."
Abstract This paper discusses research on the societal problem of low incomefamilies and the significant impact this place in society has on children specifically. The paper further discusses the issue in detail and discusses the effects that society, culture, health, and economy have on children within low income households. The paper further provides intervention information for social workers that is obtained through research.
From the Paper "Low-income families comprise 37% of our current population. "Low income" is defined by The National Center for Children in Poverty (2004) as a family of four that earns less than $18,850 per year, and/or $1,570 per month ("Low Income"). Since the industrial revolution the plight of low-income families has been a concern for social workers across the United States because low-income families make up the majority of the populations in America's urban areas. The development of low-income households is further of great significance due to the fact that elements within society, such as low wages, housing, and health issues have created for many families a world that is severely crippled by hardships without the intervention of those within the social work field. "
Abstract This paper discusses children from low incomefamilies, and language development in modern society. The paper examines the societal contention that children raised in poverty will develop inadequate language patterns as well as be candidates for special education programs when their school years commence. The research provides evidence that low income children may develop language complications because the resources for learning are not available to them.
From the Paper "Children learn language by sound or phonology that allows them to begin to form words, sentences, and structures that serve them in communication (Wright, 2004, p. 61). Children, by nature have a strong inclination to attempt to understand what things mean in order to function within their lives, and relate to the world around them (Athey, 1983, p. 197). It has been contended, however, that children of low-income families have historically suffered from language problems that begin in early childhood, and then progress throughout life because the society in which poor children are reared is absent of the verbal intricacies that children of higher income households are accustomed to."
From the Paper "One of the largest transformations in family life over the last decades has been the rise of the dual-earner family. The number of families which are dual-earner, married couple households has increased dramatically, having overtaken "traditional" breadwinner/homemaker families in number as early as the mid-70s, continuing into even through the late 1980s and 1990s. Despite the phenomenal growth in this segment of the population, very little has been done to meet the growing needs of dual-earner families. With the prevalence of mothers and fathers in the work force, inevitably we find that there is a conflict. Caregivers in the workforce face the difficult decision to choose between their family and their jobs, and unfortunately, most employers do not do enough to help."
Tags: squeeze, time, family, values, dual, earner, century
Abstract This paper asks whether or not single parenting is just as successful and beneficial to the parent and the children as dual-parent families. The position taken in this paper is that, without question, a single-parent environment in a home can be , and often is, absolutely as successful as a two-parent family.
From the Paper "It's not nearly as rare to be a single parent raising a family in 2003 as it was ten years ago, but it may be just as demanding, and even more challenging financially, since the economy is sputtering along on two ? instead of six ? cylinders. And there certainly are more single parent families than there were ten years ago, according to the 2000 Census. The number of households headed by a "single mother" has jumped 25% since 1990 (Scelfo, et al, 2001); today, 7.5 million households are run by single moms. And the number of single fathers has risen dramatically, as well: there now are single dads in 2 million-plus homes. Quickly doing the math that adds up to nearly 10 million single parent families. Is that good? Is it bad? "
Abstract Throughout the nation, America's poor are facing a serious housing shortage. Not only are there too few housing units available for those below the poverty line, the housing that is available is often out of the price range of those that need it. This paper presents a research proposal aimed at determining what can be done to help low incomefamilies have affordable and accessible housing. The writer presents the current issue, a literature review about the problem, a methodology section in which a research method is recommended, and a conclusion.
Outline:
Introduction
Background of Problem
Methodology
Questionnaire
Structured Interview
Population (Sampling)
From the Paper "There are many factors that contribute to the problem according to experts, including lack of land, lack of funding and lack of public support, but in the meantime low income or poverty level families scramble to figure out where to go or how to live. The cost of not providing affordable, accessible housing to low income families impacts taxpayers across the county in the way of providing shelters, children not getting educations, children being taken into publicly funded foster care when parents can no longer provide for them and health costs for family members who are battling the elements without a place to live. "
Abstract This paper discusses the far-reaching changes effectuated by the two-career family, as an increasing number of women enter the workplace. The paper focuses on whether two careers are always economically wise and discusses the challenges of balancing work and home.
Abstract This provides a valid introduction to the feminist perspective on family life, using concepts of conjugal roles, dual-burdens, equal opportunities, and various social policies as evidence to support the feminist viewpoint. It looks at how many feminist sociologists believe that marriage and family life exploits and oppresses women and how the traditional nuclear family, supported by functionalist and New Right sociologists, displays a definitively clear division of labour where women are expected to be housewives allowing the men to work. It also discusses how they perceive the nuclear family to mainly benefit men as women's domestic functions in the home allow men to dominate paid work as well as encouraging a patriarchal ideology.
From the Paper "Many feminist sociologists believe that marriage and family life exploits and oppresses women. The traditional nuclear family, supported by functionalist and New Right sociologists, displays a definitively clear division of labour where women are expected to be housewives allowing the men to work. Using this ideology, the female role within the family should be concerned with motherhood and housework as she is biologically best suited to this service, while the male function is to provide and protect the family and to act as a disciplinary role model to his children. Feminist sociologists disagree with this and the view that the nuclear family benefits all in society. They perceive the nuclear family to mainly benefit men as women's domestic functions in the home allow men to dominate paid work as well as encouraging a patriarchal ideology."
Abstract This paper discusses the dual court system in the U.S.A. and explains that this system refers to a two court system: the State Court system and the Federal court system. According to the paper, this dual system is an authority division system. The function of each court is discussed as well as court unification and the monolithic court system, where the two court systems merge together forming a single court system. In addition, the paper discusses which type of court is more beneficial.
Outline:
Introduction
Dual Court System
Court Unification and Monolithic Court System
Conclusion
From the Paper "Dual court system started as an assurance of limited federal intervention in local matters during the union formation. Earlier states created their own laws and the laws differed from state to state. Thus state courts were necessary for hearing cases relating to violation of those laws. The formation of the federal laws necessitated the creation of federal court systems. In present scenario, the two systems are distinct entities, neither one of which interferes in the affairs of the other."
Abstract Over the past several decades, the American middle class has expanded by hundreds of thousands of households. Record numbers of families, headed by minorities, as well as female-headed households and single individuals have joined the middle class. The paper shows that with this growth and diversity throughout the class, the economy has witnessed record years in spending, especially through the use of credit. This increase in commitments of spending future income has resulted in a class-wide precarious financial position that has heightened their vulnerability to financial ruin. The paper examines the history of credit cards in the United States and shows how this form of payment is affecting the middle class in contemporary American society.
From the Paper "Now, many credit card companies actually avoid frugal types who use a credit card as a convenience and pay off balances every month. Instead, they statistically look for spenders who have an appetite for debt, are willing to make minimum monthly payments and tolerate high percentage rates and fees. They know that fees for late payments and fees for exceeding a credit limit increase profits. Sometimes an extra like credit protection, coupled with a late charge, is enough to put a customer over his credit limit, thereby giving companies another excuse to levy a charge (Gorham, On-line). The actual sub-prime market, which includes high loan-to-value ratios, includes mortgages, car loans and credit card debt, is "estimated at $200 billion dollars and growing by an estimated 50 percent a year" (Skelly 8)."
Abstract The lack of affordable and high-quality day care has been acknowledged as a social problem ever since Congress placed day care on its agenda in the ?80s. The paper traces the steps of lobbyists who have tried to improve the situation for low-incomefamilies. The writer finally gives a proposed solution to try to alleviate the burdens on parents to work full-time in order to afford childcare.
From the Paper "The lack of day care has affected increasing numbers of families because of changes in the economic and social system. The ?70s image of the white-picket fence family, where only the father works and the mother stays at home to take care of the children, has become obsolete (Ehrlich, 1986, p. 52). Instead, since the eighties, families have had to increase their total family income to keep up with the rising costs of living. Inflation-adjusted income in two-parent families has dropped 3.1% between 1973 and 1984 (Fernberg, 1988, p. 66). In fact, according to the March 1986 Harvard Business Review, 40% of the workforce consists of both parents working (Fernberg, 1988, p. 66)."
Abstract The writer explores the differences and the similarities between single and dual parent homes and uses three sources to identify each category. The emotional, social and developmental characteristics of children from each type of home is analyzed.
From the Paper "In today's world there are as many children living in homes of single parents as there are children living in homes with two parents. It has become so commonplace that it is not unusual to hear questions such as "Does your dad live with you"? or "Are your parents divorced"? as a normal part of daily conversation. There have been numerous studies done on the effects of being raised in a single parent home and being raised in a dual parent home. Many differences between the two settings have been discovered and many similarities have also been noted. The one thing experts agree on is that they are not one and the same."
This paper discusses Head Start, a nationwide plan that provides education and services for nursery school children between the ages of three years to five years from low-incomefamilies.
Abstract This paper states that the aim of the Head Start program is to bring about a superior degree of social ability in children belonging to low-incomefamilies. The author applies the social control theory to the Head Start program. Members in society form unions with other members in society or associations in society, and through this socialization process, deviant behavior is avoided. The paper concludes that only 60 percent of 3 and 4-year-old children in poverty are assisted by Head Start due to insufficient financial support.
From the Paper "After the wants are ascertained, particular services are geared to each family. They are: family wants evaluation; enlistment and recruitment of children; society outreach; problem support and /or problem interference. Personal non-profit organizations or local public are given funds. The society must put in to twenty percent of the total cost of a Head Start. Head Start programs function in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. The majority of the Head Start program's appropriation finances local Head Start projects. The balance is utilized for research, demonstration and evaluation activities to test ground-breaking program models and to assess program usefulness; necessary monitoring activities; and training and technical assistance to support local projects in meeting the Head Start Program Performance Standards and in sustaining and improving the quality of local programs."
