Welfare Experience: Deparle\'s American Dream

¶ … Welfare Experience: DeParle's American Dream

The welfare system in the United States -- and welfare systems generally, it should be noted -- has long been a matter of contention amongst the policy makers in the federal government and in the realm of public opinion. Many feel quite strongly that welfare is nothing more than an incentive not work; it is a way for the government to provide money to people that has no real accountability for how the money is spent or who is receiving it. This argument often extends to the assertion that welfare creates a dependency, and that those receiving welfare benefits have a reduced ability to support themselves. Proponents of welfare almost universally acknowledge flaws in the current system, but point out the inefficiencies and inadequacies of the program rather than its beneficiaries. This argument has been waging since welfare was first established in this country.

Despite the time span and the historical changes that have occurred during the decades since welfare's inception, the issues and situation faced by families on welfare have remained remarkably consistent across the generations. DeParle notes that, just like her modern counterparts, Hattie Mae had to juggle welfare, boyfriends, and jobs in order to bring in enough cash to support herself and her children. This exemplifies the two primary issues that families -- especially single mothers -- have to contend with that often drives them onto the welfare rolls, and has done so for generations. First, men can escape, rightly or wrongly (or just wrongly), from the responsibilities of childbirth. Women must face the consequences one way or another, however, and very often this means having an additional and relatively costly individual to take care of when she was already struggling to make ends meet.

The second issue is the economic disparity between men and women, and the differences in their earning capabilities. Not only are women more likely to be single parents, they are also less likely to be given jobs then men, and are also apt to earn less at these jobs. The fact that even full-time employment in many cases did not provide enough of a living to support a family is a key indicator that something is wrong with society. Welfare is an attempt to address this problem, and even it falls short. This also leads to a feeling of injustice which is definitely felt by many on welfare, and is used to justify continuing payments by certain individuals DeParle mentions. In general, however, the families he depicts are struggling against external practical constraints and the inner struggle and strained energy reserves that this causes, with very real inhibitive effects on welfare recipients' sense of well-being, competency, and simple economic productivity.