The intersection of race, gender, and class

The DeParle reading did not change my perception with the ability of social policy combating poverty.  The history of how minorities have been treated in the United States post slavery exemplifies some of the discrimination, segregation, and continuous cycles of abuse that leads to present day poverty and inequality for individuals.  DeParle, 95 writes “Three centuries of exploitation from slavery to industrial unemployment is the reason for welfare policy” (Deparle, 2004). That quotes supports that social policy can be framed to support and aid citizens, but in reality it can have a hidden agenda that does not provide additional liberties for people and opportunities for better lives. For example, during the Clinton Administration, House Speaker Gingrich had his own political agenda. He attempted to “End welfare as We Know It” in his own controlling way. He wanted to allow state governors to control the welfare system oppose to the Federal government. Instead of providing helpful ways to reduce the welfare recipients with job training or daycare cost for children Gingrich choose to blame the victims who were teen parents or contracted AIDS by reducing the funding for the recipients and taking opportunities for growth from their lives ( DeParle 117).

Deparle’s book with Stone’s book  described the Liberty- welfare trade off as the recipients not truly having liberties because they were dependent on the government for  providing their shelter, food, and other necessities that could not provide. On one hand I felt that the women in DeParle did exemplify the welfare- trade off listed in the book, because they typically did not work for some of their resources, but on the other hand equal opportunity of obtaining those resources were often difficult to receive, resulting in the women finding other ways for survival. Ultimately, I think there is a trade off with the control and power of the underclass individuals. If a small window of opportunity presents itself for a person to improve their lifestyle and they take that opportunity, that results in that person improving their life. That can then result in that person helping someone else in the future, because all people rely on each other for survival and the advancement of life in society.