Premium
Looking to the Future: Welfare‐Reliant Women Talk About Their Job Aspirations in the Context of Welfare Reform
Author(s) -
Scott Ellen K.,
London Andrew S.,
Edin Kathryn
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/0022-4537.00193
Subject(s) - welfare reform , earnings , welfare , optimism , context (archaeology) , human capital , unemployment , work (physics) , cash , vocational education , labour economics , psychology , sociology , political science , social psychology , economics , economic growth , pedagogy , law , mechanical engineering , paleontology , accounting , engineering , macroeconomics , biology
We examine the job aspirations of 80 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in Cleveland and Philadelphia by drawing on data from in‐depth, qualitative interviews conducted in 1997–98, well after the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act was implemented but before time limits were reached. We show that these recipients view the work mandates they face as legitimate and express optimism regarding future work and earnings prospects. They also desire more education. Although their earnings expectations are high, respondents' occupational goals are relatively low, even among those with the most human capital. Furthermore, mothers say their vocational expectations reflect the urgency they feel about finding a job. We suggest that providing cash assistance while TANF recipients increase their human capital is critical for meeting the self‐sufficiency goals of welfare reform.