The Femization Of Poverty Essay Research Paper — страница 3

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failing. Both Democrats and Republicans emphasize the wrongs of mothers–their \”unwillingness to work,\” their failure to marry (or stay married), their irresponsible sexuality and childbearing. Accordingly, the legislative debate about welfare was a contest among moral prescriptions, rather than a conflict between perspectives either on the role and responsibilities of government or on the rights and responsibilities of women. Women now have 60 months to get off welfare and to find a job, with even stricter time limits in some states. In the year 2002, these women will be forced off the welfare roles regardless of their situation that means a loss not only in a guaranteed income, but also in benefits essential to raising a family. Another group that has contributed to the

feminization of poverty is the elderly. There have been estimates that state nearly 16% of all women age 65 and older have incomes that place them below the poverty line. Women also consist of two-thirds of the near-poor elderly (Conway 110). As a group, the elderly have three potential sources of income: old-age pensions provided under social security, private pensions, and savings and investments. All three sources have proven to be inadequate to women retirees mainly because the systems were put in place in the 1930 s when the average family had a husband who was employed and a woman who worked within the home. The problems women face are that they do not work long enough to acquire a pension plan or they do not work for employer s who offer the plans. Also because of the wage

gap mentioned earlier, women did not receive enough income to accumulate savings for their retirement years (Conway 114). Many elderly women are entitled to receive survivor s benefits from their deceased spouse s private pension. However, many people waive this right in order to receive more benefits while the spouse is alive. Until 1984, a woman s spouse was allowed to waive this right without out her written consent (Conway 113). In order to combat the problem of the feminization of poverty the United States Congress and the President will have to not only come up with a better welfare system, but will also have to battle the problems of the gender wage gap and the issues elderly women have with pension plans. All of these trends contribute to the overwhelming majority of

women in poverty. With the cut off time of welfare benefits fast approaching the government or private institutions (depending on one s political opinions) must do something to counteract these trends and they must do something quickly, before the feminization of poverty in America reaches epidemic proportions.