Main Reading Post for 11/04

The article, “The Lady and the Tramp(II): Feminist Welfare Politics, Poor Single Mothers, and the Challenge of Welfare Justice,” discusses the failure of upper to middle class feminists to stand up for poor women without a voice in promoting their rights to welfare. Mink states that these feminists are supporting gender inequalities and a female caste system by not standing up for poor women during the welfare debate. The welfare bill that passed Congress requires women who receive welfare to acquire jobs outside of the home. The bill only specifically mentions women, which Mink argues segregates poor women and recognizes them as a separate “caste group.” She especially points the blame at female politicians who idly stood by and let Republicans implement the bill. She claims that women, especially the politicians could have made a difference because of their unique position within the government, that people would have been forced to listen to them. By requiring women on welfare to work outside the home to qualify for it, the article claims that women are being deprived of equal citizenship. The bill also intensified racial divisions.

I think one of the article’s most interesting points is when it states that these white middle class feminists view mothers who need welfare as women who really need feminism and victims of a patriarchical system. Many feminists view the home as a site of oppression. But little to they realize that being able to stay home with their children without the need to make a salary is a luxury. I definitely agree with Mink on this point. Childcare is extremely expensive, and if these women on welfare are forced to work outside the home, then a large part of their salary will then have to go towards paying for childcare. Additionally, it is not fair for feminists to claim that really all these women need is feminism in their lives. Clearly the women on welfare have much more important things to think about or work towards then going the feminist movement. This feminist assumption is a fairly ignorant one.