Includes bibliographical references and index

1. Introduction : putting a face on welfare -- Critical and feminist frameworks -- Specific contributions of this study of lived experience -- Welfare and public policy -- Where are the voices of welfare recipients in the discussion? -- A national profile of welfare recipients -- Who are the participants in this study? -- Conclusion and organization -- Critical thinking questions -- 2. Historical and persisting dilemmas : how do we explain poverty, what should we do about it? -- History of cash assistance -- Recent attempts at welfare reform -- Explanations of poverty and welfare use -- Individualism -- Social structuralism -- Culture of poverty -- Fatalism -- Critical thinking questions -- 3. Stigma and discrimination -- Awareness of societal attitudes toward welfare recipients -- Racism and welfare -- Contexts where stigma and discrimination occur -- Managing stigma -- Denial -- Distancing themselves from other welfare recipients -- Blaming external forces : "it's not my fault" -- Extolling the importance of motherhood -- Critical thinking questions -- 4. Why welfare? -- The influence of social structure -- Employment -- The risk of losing health insurance -- Childcare -- Fathers' involvement -- Transportation -- Racism and sexism -- The welfare system breeds "dependence" on the system -- Fatalism -- Bad luck -- Poor health -- The termination of relationships -- Violence -- Why the inconsistency between explanations of their own and others' use of welfare? -- Critical thinking questions --

5. Day-to-day living and decision making -- Daily activities : wild living or depressing routine? -- Making ends meet with "the check" -- Living and surviving on food stamps -- Juggling bills -- Coping with the stress -- Affording life's "luxuries" -- Supplementing welfare -- Critical thinking questions -- 6. Living and surviving welfare : the importance of family, friends, and formal support -- Informal support : help from families, friends and neighbors, and children's fathers -- Assistance from families -- Assistance from friends and neighbors -- Assistance from children's fathers -- Formal support : help from charities and social services -- Working side jobs : is this fraud? -- Critical thinking questions -- 7. Insiders' perspectives on the welfare system -- Florida WAGES : a case example -- The role of government -- Opinions of the welfare system -- Strengths of the welfare system -- Weaknesses of the system -- Welfare reforms -- Time limits -- Work requirements -- Family caps -- Ideas for reform -- Critical thinking questions -- 8. Getting off welfare -- The women in the middle : why increasing human capital is not the only answer -- Education and employment training -- Work experience -- The importance of our social structure -- Not enough jobs -- Types of jobs available for women on welfare -- The value of health insurance -- Why some women on welfare are hesitant to take jobs -- Critical thinking questions -- 9. Conclusion : lessons learned and visions of change -- The gendered nature of welfare and welfare reform -- Has welfare reform been a success or a failure? -- The reasons for its failure -- Insights from other countries -- Critical thinking questions -- Appendix. Websites of interest.