Welfare/ Chapter 7 Socializing Care

I feel that I have always thought of welfare in many different ways and have had different attitudes toward women receiving welfare. Quite honestly (but not proudly) in previous years I had underlying assumptions of the typical stereotype of welfare mothers as lazy women taking advantage of money given toward them. More recently (especially with Women's Studies) I have mixed emotions yet I understand that a large portion of welfare receipiants are struggling and desperately need the assistance.

This chapter was awesome to take step by step the "evolution" of the welfare system. Ironically, the intial goals of the welfare system have now (from what I gather) have created a perpetuating cycle of basically trapping women into poverty (as well as their child(ren)). This was the exact opposite effect of the goals to allow women to rise out of poverty.

Unfortunately, the welfare system has shown to be like a trap for women. Changes could certainly be made to financially help women or even more valuably for our society/economy to value care work (ie: mothers raising children that leads to the creation of human capital!). But who will pay for this?

I assume there will be changes in the future toward welfare but it seems as though the ideas behind welfare have not improved with supporting single/widowed mothers. One thing is for sure: these mothers need the assistance and the tools to raise them out of poverty and all the complications that are effects of poverty.

American Electra

There is so much to think about reading this article! As I was reading I would read from each side (young vs. "older" feminists) and would think "Well she is right." then read the other side and think "She is right too."

I must have to admit I do think that feminism today is much different. Lady Gaga is seen as an icon but I'm not so sure that her wearing a dress that looks like meat or that shes bleeding to death to an awards ceremony admits her as the lead icon for feminism today. She is certainly someone to look to for flashy outfits and radical music videos but a truly the feminist young women today look to? Then again, through the issues of whether she's a hermaphrodite and some of her music videos and the ideas behind them have good messages at points (some messages not so great). My point is, Lady Gaga (as a feminist icon for today's feminisim) proves good points to be out there and to be who you are yet if this is how feminism is looked at- how is someone going to get a respectable career if they walk around in outfits that are extremely bizarre? I apologize but my thoughts go back and forth on this a lot so "I'm writing it as I think of it".

Also I think there is an important point to be heard that women who were feminists through previous decades do have much significance (obviously) and I think people (both young and "older feminists") forget that so much has changed within those decades in our society and culture. We are in a post industrialist society and not industrial. The world is different now. I find it hard to embrace both new and past feminism without disrespecting either side.

Diversity Dialog

Well Ladies-

I think I may have misunderstood our blogging questions this week. I think I already answered what I thought of the women/experience several weeks ago so I will make up for this blog if it's incomplete!!

The Diversity Dialog
I must say it's like a breath of fresh air to be in there and actually share what I think. When Linda said "Let's be real in here and not hold anything back" she meant it and I loved it because I truly felt comfortable (plus you girls are very easy to be around!)

I loved that we can talk about over compensation because it's probably something many of us in that group experience at one point or another.

I think I may feel differently or more held back if (I'm still being brutally honest here) there was someone of a different skin color or ethnicity in the room in fear of offending someone (which is the LAST thing I would want to do)! It's like a double edged sword but I think the dialog was great- I felt like I got some things out in the open that I probably wouldn't bring up. Loved it!